Typical of my experience of Calvinism in academic settings.
“Reformed Christians are not restorationists. That is, they do not believe that the Reformation was a break from catholic Christianity, or that the church had ceased to exist until the Reformers came along… Unlike myriad sects, we do not regard our congregations or denominations as the only true church, but as part of the catholic church across all times and places.” – Michael Horton, For Calvinism
Typical of my experience of Calvinism on the Internet. [In response to a question asking people to name their favorite theologian from the other side of the Calvinist/Arminian divide]
“I have no favorite Arminian theologian-Why do you expect orthodox Calvinists to have a favorite heretic?”
“I am Calvinistic and don’t really know many Arminian Theologians. Those that I know of, I dislike greatly”
In the word’s of Jon Stewart- Calvinists, “meet me at camera two.”
Do you see the problem here? People are getting mixed signals.
Do you like us? Do you think we’re godforsaken heretics?
We don’t know, and that makes it hard to talk to you.
Yes, some of the stereotyping of Calvinists is unfair and unhelpful. But you know we’re not just making this stuff up, right?
So please, figure out where you stand and teach that consistently, so that when we come across the average Calvinist online we can have some idea whether we are going to be welcomed as a brother/sister in Christ or condemned as a heretic.
Sincerely,
People who aren’t Calvinists [Or as you call pretty much all of us, Arminians]
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