Religion in Europe: Protestantism: Calvinism

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Theological System. Calvinism is the name given to the theological system of John Calvin and his followers. Calvinism had a tremendous impact in Europe and on the Puritans who came to New England. It has also influenced many aspects of life and culture as well as religion in the United States from the seventeenth century to the present. At the heart of Calvin’s system was the idea of Sola Scriptura, or Scripture as the sole source of knowledge needed to attain salvation. More important than symbols that were so much a part of Catholic practice was one’s understanding of the Bible, which would, in turn, deepen one’s faith. Adherence to biblical law would check the depravity that humans had carried with them since Adam. People also needed to have faith, for hearing sermons or receiving the sacraments held little meaning without it. However, faith or grace was not available to all. Calvin proffered the notion of predestination. God had chosen who was predestined to be among the elect, or saved, and who was damned. Members of the elect were a part of the invisible church, and only God knew who they were. Following St. Augustine, the seventh-century Christian thinker, Calvin also believed that a visible church existed, the historical church on Earth. Membership in the visible church, earned by upright, moral behavior, was also important and a goal to be worked toward. It was also evidence that one might be a part of the invisible church.

Social System. Calvinism must also be considered as a social system. Both to achieve and reflect status in the visible church, Christians were to behave in a certain way in daily life, not only on the Sabbath and other holy days. Such uprightness might be a sign of sainthood. Calvin envisioned a model Christian society. Yet because he believed that humans were depraved as a result of Adam’s original sin, self-discipline and social control had to be imposed to achieve the desired ends. In Geneva a council of twelve elders was appointed. They instituted rules of discipline. Life was austere: music and incense were forbidden, as were bright colors and decorations, for they were temptations to evil and distractions from godliness. In establishing their new societies the Puritans who immigrated to New England were able to adhere more closely to Calvin’s idea of a model Christian community than either Calvin or his followers in Europe ever could. Calvinism, both in the Old and New Worlds, particularly appealed to the emergent middle class. Industrious and pious, they found particularly appealing the tenet that hard work and discipline suggested godliness and election.

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Michael A. Mullett, Calvin (New York: Routledge, 1989).