The only thing I will definitely hold against Calvin and blame him for at present is his own words.
He wrote his intent and desire to see a man killed. So much for religious freedom...
I am not picking an isolated situation. It just appears Calvin's overall theology allows for persecuation and oppression of those who disagree. It allows the whole idea of enforcing the Kingdom of God via the sword on those who do not accept the Kingdom of God by the Word.
Were there not baptists in prison in the USA when the Declaration of Independence was being signed? Was there not religious persecution taken place as they penned those lofty, yet seemingly hypocritical words of all men being created equal... or did "all" not mean all, just the elect? Which the non-calvinist ana-baptists were not...
I guess Calvinist hermenutics would allow for that.
Disclaimer: The final paragraph was written slightly tongue-in-cheek.
He wrote his intent and desire to see a man killed. So much for religious freedom...
I am not picking an isolated situation. It just appears Calvin's overall theology allows for persecuation and oppression of those who disagree. It allows the whole idea of enforcing the Kingdom of God via the sword on those who do not accept the Kingdom of God by the Word.
Were there not baptists in prison in the USA when the Declaration of Independence was being signed? Was there not religious persecution taken place as they penned those lofty, yet seemingly hypocritical words of all men being created equal... or did "all" not mean all, just the elect? Which the non-calvinist ana-baptists were not...
I guess Calvinist hermenutics would allow for that. Disclaimer: The final paragraph was written slightly tongue-in-cheek.