An argument-by-example for the separation of church and state. According to William Manchester’s excellent A World Lit Only by Fire, p. 190:
‘All Protestant regimes were stiffly doctrinal to a degree unknown—until now—in Rome. John Calvin’s Geneva, however, represented the ultimate in repression. The city-state of Geneva, which became known as the Protestant Rome, was also, in effect, a police state, ruled by a Consistory of five pastors and twelve lay elders, with the bloodless figure of the dictator looming over all. 
In physique, temperament, and conviction, Calvin (1509–1564) was the inverted image of the freewheeling, permissive, high-living popes whose excesses had led to Lutheran apostasy. Frail, thin, short, and lightly bearded, with ruthless, penetrating eyes, he was humorless and short-tempered. The slightest criticism enraged him. Those who questioned his theology he called “pigs,” “asses,” “riffraff,” “dogs,” “idiots,” and “stinking beasts.” One morning he found a poster on his pulpit accusing him of “Gross Hypocrisy.” A suspect was arrested. No evidence was produced, but he was tortured day and night for a month till he confessed. Screaming with pain, he was lashed to a wooden stake. Penultimately, his feet were nailed to the wood; ultimately he was decapitated.
‘Calvin’s justification for this excessive rebuke reveals the mindset of all Reformation inquisitors, Protestant and Catholic alike: “When the papists are so harsh and violent in defense of their superstitions” he asked, “are not Christ’s magistrates shamed to show themselves less ardent in defense of the sure truth?” Clearly, he would have condemned the Jesus of Matthew (5:39, 44) as a heretic. In Calvin’s Orwellian theocracy, established in 1542, acts of God—earthquakes, lightning, flooding—were acts of Satan. (Luther, of course, agreed.) Copernicus was branded a fraud, attendance at church and sermons was compulsory, and Calvin himself preached at great length three or four times a week. Refusal to take the Eucharist was a crime. 
The Consistory, which made no distinction between religion and morality, could summon anyone for questioning, investigate any charge of backsliding, and entered homes periodically to be sure no one was cheating Calvin’s God. Legislation specified the number of dishes to be served at each meal and the color of garments worn. What one was permitted to wear depended upon who one was, for never was a society more class–ridden. Believing that every child of God had been foreordained, Calvin was determined that each know his place; statutes specified the quality of dress and the activities allowed in each class.
‘But even the elite—the clergy, of course—were allowed few diversions. Calvinists worked hard because there wasn’t much else they were permitted to do. “Feasting” was proscribed; so were dancing, singing, pictures, statues, relics, church bells, organs, altar candles; “indecent or irreligious” songs, staging or attending theatrical plays; wearing rouge, jewelry, lace, or “immodest” dress; speaking disrespectfully of your betters; extravagant entertainment; swearing, gambling, playing cards, hunting, drunkenness; naming children after anyone but figures in the Old Testament; reading “immoral or irreligious” books; and sexual intercourse, except between partners of different genders who were married to one another.”
Then there is Calvin’s denouncing of reason and independent judgment:
“Human reason, therefore, neither approaches, not strives towards, nor takes proper aim at this truth: to understand who is the true God or what He wills to be towards us.” And: “From whence come so many labyrinths of errors in the world but because men are led by their own understanding only into vanity and untruth?” And in language that foreshadows Kant: “there is reason naturally implanted within us which cannot be condemned without injustice to God. But this reason has its limits. If reason exceeds these limits, reason vanishes.”
Then there is sad case of Michael Servetus, who ran afoul of Calvin’s theology and made the mistake of going to Geneva.
More on Calvinism here. The poster image is an amusing take on Calvinist predestinarianism.
All of which (a) helps me understand some my extended family back in farm country, Ontario; (b) gives me hope that some other parts of the world too can learn to tame their religious fanatics; and (c) almost makes me long for the good old days.
Hi
I’m going to use your article for my term paper.
May I please kknow whar area of stidy you are in ? I think it’s ohilosopher.
Thank you
Sarah MTSU
Interesting that the Calvary Chapel movement is able to function and grow without a membership process or requirement! They are able to give tax deductible receipts to donors. The Pastor is not selected by a board or congregational vote either. (People vote with their feet). The early “Restoration” movements during the time of the first “Great Awakenings” had as one of their distinctives an abhorrence of denominations. They sought to imitate the early church as much as possible. http://www.thecra.org/about_us/restoration_movement ( I am not endorsing this movement but am pointing out that there have been many in the past who rejected man-made structures and sought unity through simple adherence to the teachings of the Bible)
This does not mean the local congregation does not test those claiming to be apostles, or visiting teachers or those new in their midst. For many false teachers have gone out into the world. Neither does the local assembly lack authority to send out, select elders and deacons or administer biblical discipline.
When a Christian faces public ridicule, persecution, and excommunication from his local assembly, because he/she does not adhere to denominational distinctives, or a unbalanced emphasis to selected doctrines, or any other non-essential custom or ordinance that is man-made, then we must do like Jesus and confront those who make the Word of God void through the customs of the elders, or removing ourselves from their midst In order to obey God rather than obey man.
Large centralized denominations or certain forms of local church structure, while they might set guidelines, and seem to protect the members also inherit the danger of putting conformity to ” man-made distinctives” above one’s conscience and even above the Word of God.
We are only Christians, not the only Christians, just Christians and members of the body of Jesus Christ. (Paraphrased from Restoration Movement literature)
“Then there is sad case of Michael Servetus, who ran afoul of Calvin’s theology and made the mistake of going to Geneva” – link is bad; is now http://www.servetus.org/en/miguel-servet/48-resumen-de-la-biografia-de-miguel-servet.html
Excellent quotes but I just wanted to make a comparison of Luther vs. Calvin with regard to reason. The one you like to use from Luther:
“Reason is a whore, the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.”
Contrast that with Calvin’s quote from above:
“Human reason, therefore, neither approaches, not strives towards, nor takes proper aim at this truth: to understand who is the true God or what He wills to be towards us.” And in language that foreshadows Kant: “there is reason naturally implanted within us which cannot be condemned without injustice to God. But this reason has its limits. If reason exceeds these limits, reason vanishes.”
You make two charges, “Then there is Calvin’s denouncing of reason and independent judgment.” Calvin unlike Luther says “reason …cannot be condemned without injustice to God.” We are made in the image of God and God is supra reasonable from a human point of view. If anything Calvin exults reason far beyond it’s place according to Lutherans.
On charge number two – guilty as charged. We do not have a complete position of independence for our judgment. For two primary reasons. We are finite (confirmed by the use of “human reason”), God is infinite and omniscient. Our minds have been compromised by the Fall and sin.
I’m a big fan of your indictment of the roots of post-modernism falling mostly with the German philosophers. I see a direct link between Luther and even the culture Herder references as being the root of post-modernism.
Calvinists generally have no antipathy toward reason unlike Lutherans who are unenthusiastic with apologetics at best. You can indict true reformed Christians for being wary on the limits of humanity’s self referential use of reason but not their disbelief in reason. Reformed Christians are justifiably proud of the Reformation’s contribution to the Enlightenment and it’s Hellenistic intellectual rigor exemplified by the Apostle Paul.
Thank you for your defense of the gift of reason.
Thank you, Howard.
And a good contrast of Luther and Calvin, though I think it’s often a matter of degree. To your quotations from Calvin, I would add these:
“Man’s mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind, then it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain.”
“There is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence in our own intelligence”.
And: “Our reason is overwhelmed by so many forms of deceptions, is subject to so many errors, dashes against so many obstacles, is caught in so many difficulties, that it is far from directing us aright.” (Institutes 2:2:25.)
More excellent quotes. I think those quotes put a fine point on the division between confidence in reason vs. the person doing the reasoning. What is remarkable is the abiding faith Calvin has in reason in spite of the obstacles to misusing reason.
The bias of the author is obvious. Give Geneva some credit, they did establish a way of living without infallible king or pope. The citizens believed the Bible was God’s word, they acted accordingly.
I would have rather read an article about how rational humanism is the best worldview, instead of a Christian-loathing, straw man representation. The mayflower was full of puritans who were definitely influenced by Calvin.
I understand from other studies that Calvin had no actual power at all in Geneva, that all the power was NOT in the Consistory but in the town council, of which Calvin was never a member because he had no citizenship. I have also found it stated that during Servet’s process, with the “libertines” holding all the key positions in town, Calvin had less influence in Geneva than ever (see Alistair McGrath). Nowhere can I find the number of 58 executions from 1541-6 that Zweig claims substantiated, I don’t know where that comes from. I don’t know enough to judge who is right, especially because I sense enormous bias from both sides. As far as I can see now, the idea of Calvin’s dictatorship in Geneva seems unfounded.
I’ve always heard and understand that Calvin’s power was intellectual and moral over Geneva, not formally political.
This article is trash. Not academic and very bias. Your viewing everything through a 21st century lens.
Please point out a falsehood in the article, M. That would be helpful.
People still worship John Calvin like a god. I have been horrendously persecuted for not following him and even held hostage in a home of a Bible church for now making him my master. It is as if Calvinists have a worshipping image of him hidden in the closet. John Calvin was a Diotrephes who wanted preeminence among the believers as we read in 3rd John.
Calvin demanded everyone approve of infant baptism and removed Israel and replaced her with the church. He did not adhere to his Bible especially Revelation chapters 20, 7, 14, 12 and Psalm 2, chapters in Zechariah and endless other chapters regarding the Jews in many books of the Bible. And he ignored the Scriptures regarding the fact, one day all Jews will believe. Anyone who reads their Bibles knows Revelation did not take place in 70 AD when Jerusalem was destroyed. This is insane? When was 1/3 of the earth destroyed in 70 AD and all the plagues which will be placed on the entire earth one day?
Calvin blasphemed Jesus Christ over and over again. In his commentary on Genesis chapter 3, he stated Christ would not bruise satan on the head, but it would be society and believers. He also said satan would soon be bound and anyone with discernment knows this is a lie from the pit; the doctrine of demons. I could go on and on.
First allow me to thank Stephen Hicks for his scholarly and forensic empirical documentary of what they call in the Criminal Justice System “DISCOVERY”. Secondly my highest commendation for Val Lee’s Biblical Discernment expose of the theology of John Calvin Principality. Reformed Theology without Theocracy is Counterfeit Calvinism. Calvinism is the Leaven of Herod full flowered Tulip.
A PARABLE OF POISON IVY (PRINCIPALITY OF CALVINISM)
Three Leaves just like a real Tulip has Three Petals (Not Fake Five)
By James Sundquist
The Synod of Dort that launched TULIP couldn’t even count. A Tulip has only 3 petals not 5 (even ULIP is only 4). Holland sells 1.5 billion tulips a year and there was not one wise among them that would stand up in the council or ever sense and say “Wait a minute, a tulip has only 3 petals, so why are creating a fake flower acronyms of 5 points in TULIP?” If you are going to practice numerology or magic arts, at least get your figures right. So forget the Apostle Paul’s warning about myths, let’s press on a perpetuate this myth until the Lord comes! And forget Liberty in Christ, that Paul declared. Only difference between Communism and Calvinism is one is Atheist but both are Absolute Power which corrupts absolutely! Totalitarianism must reign and Truth is disposable!
About three years ago after purchasing our house, after spending hundreds of hours restoring the interior, we went to work restoring the property and grounds surrounding the house. One of the projects involved removing all of the brush, weeds, and poison ivy. We even brought in a professional landscaper and crew to clear and haul away all of the debris. But even after all of this work and expense, there were still patches of poison ivy in various places and on the adjoining properties. So I went to Home Depot to get advice. They told me to get this chemical that you have to spray on the leaves. Then you have to wait a number of days for the leaves to change color, turn brown, dry up, and eventually shrivel away. This would purge our property of this threat. The poison ivy was easy to identify because of the three leaf clusters, I learned when I was a kid growing up by the woods in Oregon. Don’t be fooled by this lethal trinity. There it was poison oak. Some weeks later my daughter had a friend from school come and visit her. They played in the yard and hid in the bushes for fun. But one of these bushes had poison ivy growing inside of the bushes, not readily detectable. At the time, I was not concerned that the kids were playing in back yard. After all, I had cleared out any danger of poison ivy, right? A few days later her face turned red and starting itching horribly. She was in agony. So we took her to the doctor and got her a prescription of Prednisone. She eventually healed, but not without a great deal of torment. This reminded of what happened to my mom when I was growing up. We had chopped down all of the poison oak in the woods across the street from our house. We gathered all together and made a big bonfire. (Back then burning was allowed). My mom was not even involved in the cleanup or gathering of the poison oak to burn. She was just standing nearby cheering the family on and giving us all moral support. But the smoke from the fire started blowing around her and towards her face. And like with our daughter, no one was really concerned or wary, even though we all had an almost reverence for how wicked poison oak is. Well a few days later her face and neck became as red as a radish and her whole head swelled like a basketball. My father was a physician and immediately knew that this was an emergency and took her to the hospital and gave her Penicillin and antibiotics. She was in great misery and we all felt for her as her beautiful face was all distorted and she was in anguish. She almost died. It was a close call. So I am very familiar with this evil.
Back to our home. One day, weeks later, thinking all of the poison ivy had been eradicated, I went down to remove the remaining weeds and roots still sticking out of the ground. The hoe had poison ivy oil on it because it was on my gloves. But thank God we remembered to scrub down the hoe. I even had gloves on and a long sleeve shirt for protection. But while pulling, digging, and hoeing roots were sticking out of the ground, one root sprang loose and grazed my wrist…it didn’t hurt and I didn’t even see a mark. I didn’t think anything of it…just thought it was an ordinary branch…and thank God it was removed so that the entire yard looked great now. It appeared to be safe for habitation, friends, and fellowship. But it was NOT an ordinary branch, rather it was one of the remaining roots of the subterranean poison ivy network. There was nothing the naked eye could see to cause any alarm, even with my expert knowledge of identifying poison ivy. Days later a nasty rash broke out on that very place on my wrist and got worse by the day, that itched so badly, I wanted to claw my arm off. Brother Jimmy at church, who also once had a nasty battle with poison ivy, gave me some medicine to clean and help the itching and burning. It was very helpful. And I was very grateful for this gift. But the pain and suffering did not disappear immediately. But how could this have happened? I was so sure this dangerous threat to my family and friends and clients that visit our house, was over. Boy was I wrong. Scripture warns us that you can’t get figs out of a thorn bush. The reason is that the tree or vines can only produce what the roots are:
“For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.” Luke 6:44
It does not matter how much you till, water, fertilize, or kiss (I pray that you don’t kiss the leaves) the roots, it will ONLY produce poison ivy. It will NEVER produce fruit that is good.
Though these are all true stories, they are also a parable of what has happened to the church with the root system of Sovereign Grace Ministries, 9Marks Ministries, the Gospel Coalition, Biblical Counseling Coalition, Ecumenism, Emerging Church, and Old Calvinism (John Calvin), Reformed Theology, and New Calvinism. The root system of Sovereign Grace Ministries is the shepherding movement. The root of Calvinism is Theocracy. Combine the two, you have a demonic alloy of two metals that are even stronger when these principalities are combined. My term for this bondage and abuse of spiritual authority. Poison ivy must come. But failure to heed the warning signs is a dereliction of duty of the watchman and steward, to be once informed and then do nothing. But it is even worse to then blame the messenger for sounding the alarm and defaming that person’s good name and reputation. So who is really the one who “troubleth his own house”? The one who removes the roots of the poison ivy, or the one who refuses to remove them and blame the messenger? And God forbid that we should make a green salad with either the leaves of poison oak or poison ivy and call it healthy eating or give it to your guests at your home or church and called being “hospitable to strangers” or those you compel to come to your feast that you meet in the streets.
But if you already got a rash from Reformed Theology there is a treatment, but it may take weeks if not years to get healed from it.
“One morning he found a poster on his pulpit accusing him of “Gross Hypocrisy.” A suspect was arrested. No evidence was produced…”
This and following sound horrible. The problem, it’s not true.
He was arrested by civil authorities, not Calvin. Evidence was found at this house. He confessed to the letter (among other things). And he was condemned an de executed by the civil authorities.
Likewise Servetus. He was a heretic condemned by Catholics and Protestants alike, not just some random victim of Calvin.
Calvin’s actions were harsh enough without you having to exaggerate them.
I’m not yet clear, Al: What is being exaggerated?
February 13, 1546, “If he comes [to Geneva], I shall never let him go out alive if my authority has weight.”
August 20, 1553, “I hope that Servetus will be condemned to death.”
“Honour, glory, and riches shall be the reward of your pains; but above all, do not fail to rid the country of those scoundrels, who stir up the people to revolt against us. Such monsters should be exterminated, as I have exterminated Michael Servetus the Spaniard.”
You’ve been lied to. Calvin wasn’t that bad; he was worse. He had written Geneva’s church constitution by 1541; state constitution by 1547. His party took the upper house in ’55. Two years earlier, the state reserved the power to excommunicate. Calvin’s church kept doing it anyway until his party took the upper house. He openly claims credit for killing Servetus multiple times.
And what is the oh-so-dangerous heresy Servetus taught? Unitarianism and Credobaptism. Let’s send our personal secretary to intercept him on the road, jail him for 7 years, and execute him, kindly asking the state to take the blame with a state-style execution (beheading) instead of a church-style one that will look bad on me (burning) for not letting us threaten him into recanting! He didn’t have Servetis kicked out, didn’t label him a persona-non-grata. He put out a warrant.
wow….
There is a lot here. My studies of Calvin (limited) have not produced the same condemnation you are placing at his feet. I am absolutely open to truth and have no interest in revising history. However, you do not source anything above. Could you please site where you are getting these things from? It would be most advantages.
Thank you!
Tim
Tim, in the 17th comment (above) points out that “you do not source anything.” That’s not entirely true. You source William Manchester’s book, which IS excellent. However, Manchester doesn’t source much at all. I found this page because I wanted to check on his work on Calvin and Geneva! To be sure, he has a bibliography and, for the book’s readability, he may have been wise not to pack it with foot- or end notes. Still, because he brings so many harsh accusations against Calvin and his Geneva, I would have appreciated tracking down his sources. Manchester may be representing Calvin almost exactly right. I would like to know where his information comes from. As he himself admits, he did not work from primary sources for this book.
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Calvin exemplifies Everything the founding fathers sought protections against and to prevent from ever happening again when they wrote our founding documents.
Excellent excellent analogy! I find it laughable that so many of these Calvinists/reformed react, so defensively on here… Their defensiveness alone shows their unwillingness to even consider the fallacy and their logic for believing in reformed theology. They are following the ideology of a tyrant. And it makes perfect sense, what was the purpose of Calvinism then? It was to cripple the people with fear, and keep them under his thumb. What is the purpose of reformed theology today? To keep people crippled with fear (pew sitters) and compliant, filling the coffers (ie. under the pastors thumb.
Please email me a copy of my quotes Inposted. Thanks!
Please email me a copy of my quotes I posted. to: koinoniawarrior@icloud.com
Also, it wont let me post more than one…on the same email… I had to change the email address. So please sent me quotes to the above email
Thanks!
“a way of living without infallible king or pope” so Calvin was fallible, right?🤣