The Reformation was started in France under the leadership of John Calvin who was a priest. John Calvin was born in 1509 at Noyens in France. His father wanted to make him a priest for which he was provided training in Theology in Paris University for some time. After this he was sent to Orleans University for the study of law because his father later thought the study of law to be more beneficial for his son. Calvin was very much impressed by Martin Luther. He also hated the corrupt Pope and his followers. Calvin wrote “The Institutes of Christian Religion” for the good of people. It was based on logic and it greatly influenced the people.
Teaching of
Calvin
1.
Firm faith in the Bible
Calvin
had a firm faith in the Bible. He preached that the
people should lead their life according to the teachings of the Bible. He did
not pay much heed to rituals and stressed that the priest had nothing to do
between God and the devotees.
2.
The supremacy of God's will
The
basis of his principles is 'the supremacy of God's
will'. Everything happens only by the will of God. That is why man can be
liberated neither by 'karma' nor by 'faith'. That could just be by the 'grace'
of God. It is God's wish that some people should attain salvation and some
should suffer the tortures of hell. Therefore, as per his wish, he selects some
persons to attain salvation and all other persons go to hell.
3.
Doctrine of Predestination
As
soon as a human being is born, it is decided whether he will be emancipate or
not. That is called the Doctrine of Predestination. On the face of it, this
should have increased extreme fatalism, but on the contrary, calvinism infused
enthusiasm and divine inspiration into its followers. The Calvinist started
working with the understanding that this was his destiny and he could not
deviate from it. This determinism in economic terms meant that success or
failure in the competitive world of business did not depend on human actions or
ingenuity but on 'unknown economic forces'.
4.
On Holy Eucharist
According
to Calvin, sprinkling wine on bread in the Holy
Eucharist does not change it into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
Rather, they are simply symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
5.
On state and religion
He
considered that the state and religion were two different things. He did not
like the interference of state in the Protestant religion. Similarly, he wished
that the church should not interfere in the matters of state.
6.
Democratic structure to church
Calvin
gave a democratic structure to church. He preached
that religious issues should be settled by the religious authorities in consul-
tation with the people. He also gave due regards to Presbyters, hence a sect
known as Presbyterianism came into being.
7.
On magic and totems
He
believed in morality and laid stress on leading a moral and sacred life. He did
not like the people who believed in magic and totems and
was completely against corruption and licentious life.
8.
Great disciplinarian
Calvin
was a great disciplinarian. He forced the people of
Geneva to lead a strict disciplined life. He formed a committee known as
Consistory which kept a watch on the conduct of people and punished all those
who acted otherwise.
9.
Intolerant
Calvin
was intolerant towards all who did not go hand in
hand with him. Calvin gave death punishment to a doctor of Spain (Servetus) who
did not agree with him about the existence of God.
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