The Reform Program of John Calvin in the City of Geneva - Research Paper Example

?TOPIC: The Reform Program of John Calvin in the of Geneva comparing it with either the English Reformation or the Catholic Reformation INTRODUCTION: John Calvin was a Frenchman, born in 1509 in Noyon, Picardy. He studied theology from the University of Paris, but was pressurized by his father to study law, therefore he was originally a humanistic Lawyer. (Cotrett, 2003) In between 1931 to 1933, Calvin experienced a sudden conversion and finally he grasped Protestantism as his final course of life. In October 1933, Calvin fled to Paris and for three years he roamed Italy, France and Switzerland. He was critical about French Catholic Church and spent a tough time in France after he resigned to accept Roman Catholic Church and came up as a vulnerable Protestants. When the Religious tension raised up and took a dangerous course Calvin fled to Basel in Switzerland where he published his first book “The Institute of the Christian Religion” in 1936. In the following year, he was hired to help reform the Church in Geneva. He was expelled from his duty but he continued his efforts for reform and soon he was called to take over his duties back and lead the church. On his return to his duties, he made several prominent changes in church government and Liturgy regardless of some influential families who were against his policies. Calvin suffered harassment and criticism but remained focused on his mission of improving and bringing in new reforms. In his way, he was supported by the refugees during the election of city council. Calvin tried hard and did his best to promote new reforms both in Geneva and Europe. Calvin’s reforms and ideology is known as Calvinism. CALVINISM: Calvinism is all about doctrine of Predestination and absolute sovereignty of God which is greatly influenced by Augustinian. (Thomas, 1963) The theology of Calvinism was infused in Europe in 16th century, which is based on five basic reforms, which is recalled by an acrostic TULIP: T: Total Depravity explains that mankind has no power to choose right or wrong paths as people are all helplessly sinners and only God can choose them for the right path. Catholics preaches that this mankind has free will and can choose between right and wrong path, God has given a liberty to people to choose the way they want and will be rewarded accordingly (Steele, 1963). U: Unconditional Election states that People who go to heaven is not because of their good deeds or faith but they were unconditionally chosen by God to be sent to heaven and the rest are lost forever. Catholics says that it is the faith that lived and exists and people will be rewarded in regard of their deeds. L: Limited Atonement says that Jesus gave his life for specific sins of selected people, who will ultimately go to heaven and the God has already chosen people for heaven. Catholicism teaches that Jesus sacrificed his life for all mankind regardless of any favor to specific people and people have to believe it without any doubt. I: Irresistible Grace explains that whoever is selected by God will get the virtue of knowledge of God and the elected person cannot resist the call. Catholicism says that Grace is a divine gift for all mankind but people can resist the call. P: Perseverance of the Saints states that the one who received the call of communion will remain in that state until reach heaven, it is impossible for any person to lose his Salvation. Catholicism says that as human we are all sinful and somehow make mistakes but God is there to forgive and deliver us in heaven. All these five points were strongly condemned by the Roman Catholic Church and they present different view or interpretation of the verses of Gospel from which Calvin supported and spread his own perceptions. There are different theologies over same verses but the interpretation completely differs to what Calvin tried to prove. ARMINIANSM: (Stanglin, 2009) Armenian theology also has some conflicts with what Calvin’s reforms say. Armenians rejects the idea of predestination and it says that a person is not helpless and the predestination is not absolute. Atonement is not limited but was for all mankind but first they must learn the fact of Salvation. It further states that God helps a person to attain faith but he achieves it if he tries. Human efforts are the main component and can resist the call of God. Tim Lahaye says “Calvinism is perilously close to Blasphemy”. CATHOLIC REFORMATION: Catholic reformation started before Calvin or Luther presented their ideologies towards changes in papacy. Educated Christian like Luther and Erasmus wanted to rise against the corruption done in the name of nobility and divinity. (Olin, 1969) During 15th Century, Jesuits and followers adopted a strategy of censorship, which was followed by burning thousands of books of Protestantism. The Society of Jesus or Jesuits founded in 1534, had measure plans to bypass local authorities or churches and appealed to the international movement with a purpose revive Christianity universally. The theologians of the society highlighted the flaw of protestant belief about predestination and gave an emotional touch of forgiveness and divine grace, considering that small sins are okay if a great good is done in exchange. This supported people who were demoralized with their attempted sins and therefore they found Christianity as a more convincing, hopeful and directly spiritual religion. The Jesuits requested the royal families to strengthen Churches through investing high people help. All unethical and abusive offence was condemned and gave final authority to Pope. Religious Reformations helped modernizing the state because no compromises were made and Europe had to split the matrix with more windows and more walls were smashed which proved to be a severe setback for Catholic Churches and similarly The protestant leaders decline the demand of empowering papal and took over the authority of their own churches,. (Norman, 2007) In the beginning of 16th century when people in huge masses were getting attracted towards Calvinism, several attempts were made to win back the dignified position of Catholicism but all strong edges and wealthy people were towards Luther or Calvinism, therefore all attempts ended up without any effective outcome. Ignatius Loyola, a Spanish reformer and a soldier brought forward a reform strategy to attract the converts back. He infused the humanist tradition of renaissance with the reformed Catholicism which would drag strong economical and political groups, who were still in the state of confusion between Luther, Calvinism or Catholicism. (Olin, 1969) By 17th Century, Catholicism was the most convincing religion and Jesuits were considered as the most popular and educated teachers in France. Almost all religious institutes were directly after each individual to claim one choice. The Protestants translated and interpreted bibles according to their study and belief of salvation and damnation. WHY PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO CALVINISM? It is observed that younger people as compared to the old age groups are more towards Calvinism. (Kuyper, 2001) It is because of the liberty Calvinism provides in practicing faith and the equality it give for all mankind to practice. It denies the way Roman Catholic practice their religion and the way they sweep their filthy acts under the rug in the name of power or superiority. It was spread in Geneva because the religious beliefs justified the revolts and Calvin welcomed the refugees who were skilled, artist, business man and later he shaped Geneva as the most educated, modernized and liberal state. He was the man of his words and worked hard to make people realize that religion is not all about practicing beliefs but to shape up things in almost every walk of life. In 1559, he established an institution of intellectuals to build Geneva ethically, moral and strategically. Calvinism was widely accepted by the people who were educated or skilled and wanted the liberty to make their own accomplishments which was never possible in Catholic Christianity because Priests always discouraged people from getting more into the world. The conflicts of Roman Catholic with scientific advancements are condemned by Calvinism which is also one of the factors why the technologically advanced and equipped people are all more towards Calvinism. Calvin simply claimed that nothing is accepted beyond scriptures. Calvinism promotes people to work for their better world as they believe on predestination and damnation. BIBLIOGRAPHY: David N. Steele, Curtis C. Thomas, “The Five Points of Calvinism” Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1963, New Jersey, U.S.A. John C. Olin, “The Catholic Reformation: Savonarola to Ignatius Loyola: reform in Church 1495-1540”, Harper and Row, 1969, New York, U.S.A Edward Norman, “The Roman Catholic Church: An Illustrated History”, University of California Press, Thames and Hudson Ltd,2007, London. Abraham Kuyper, “Lectures on Calvinism” Sovereign Grace Publishers, 2001. Keith D. Stanglin, Marijke Tolsma, “Arminius, Arminianism and Europe: Jacobus Arminius (1559/1560 -1609)” Brill series in church history, volume 39, IDC Publishers 2009, Neatherlands. Bernard Cornett, “Calvin, ABiography” Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 2000, Michigan, U.S.A Read More