Calvin at 500: celebrating the father of Reformation.NEXT YEAR IS the cinquo-centennial of our theological parent, John Calvin, the originator of our Reformed identity. To mark the event the Committee on History will publish a popular series of 10 monthly articles from September to June in the Presbyterian Record The Presbyterian Record (Inc.) is a monthly periodical for the Presbyterian Church in Canada. It has published monthly since January 1876, and served as the merger of The Presbyterian (1848-1875) of the Church of Scotland Canadian Synod, and the on the significance of John Calvin in today's world. Born July 10, 1509, Jean Cauvin (as he was originally known) grew up in the Picardy town of Noyon, 60 miles northeast of Paris. His reputation has been variously celebrated and derided: he is portrayed as a dark and brooding figure whose one contribution to the history of thought was predestination predestination, in theology, doctrine that asserts that God predestines from eternity the salvation of certain souls. So-called double predestination, as in Calvinism, is the added assertion that God also foreordains certain souls to damnation. (which was arguably ar·gu·a·ble adj. 1. Open to argument: an arguable question, still unresolved. 2. That can be argued plausibly; defensible in argument: three arguable points of law. taught by the apostle Paul or, if you prefer, Augustine). A strange legacy for a warmhearted classmate of Rabelais at the University of Paris whose motto pictured a burning heart: "My heart Lord I give you, promptly and sincerely." The 10-part series will bring him into a more favourable light and also make him accessible to those of us without formal theological training. Calvin cast a long shadow over Protestantism, and particularly in Scotland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Ireland, the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and most recently Korea. Peter Bush will start the series in September with an introductory article on Calvin's life. Recent moderator Hans Kouwenberg writes on Calvin and preaching. Christine O'Reilly examines Calvin's view of church government and specifically how presbyteries should operate. Barry Mack asks whether Calvin was the father of Canadian capitalism. John Vissers looks at Calvin and theological education. Ken Stewart shares his extensive research into Calvin and missions. Ian Wishart Ian Wishart is a New Zealand journalist, author and editor of Investigate magazine. Wishart is a Christian and his views come from the extreme right politically, strongly attacking the current New Zealand government as Marxist; and criticising homosexual rights and views Calvin's spirituality (The Imitation of Christ in Calvin). I will conclude by bringing together the various strands of Calvin. Articles still to be assigned are Calvin and religious tolerance, and Calvin and national identity: Scots, Irish, Dutch, Hungarian, or Korean. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth will feature many celebrations, academic conferences, public services Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly (through the public sector) or by financing private provision of services. of thanksgiving, and articles both learned and popular. It's hoped that this series in the Record will bring Calvin alive for readers, particularly for those for whom Calvin has either been maligned ma·lign tr.v. ma·ligned, ma·lign·ing, ma·ligns To make evil, harmful, and often untrue statements about; speak evil of. adj. 1. Evil in disposition, nature, or intent. 2. or is unknown. Additional study material will be available on the Record's website: www.presbyterianrecord.ca. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion