JOHN CALVIN REFORMATION IN FRANCE

John Calvin (1509-1564) of France was from the 2nd generation of reformers. He was regarded as the most influential reformer because of his powerful impact on different parts of Europe. He studied to become a priest and later he was trained as a lawyer. Calvin was influenced by humanism. Many of his views were derived from the Bible; however, he was also influenced by St. Augustine. He was forced to leave France because of the religious prosecution carried out by rulers. According to Calvin, God is without any limitation of time or place. He believed that man belongs to god and it is mans duty to sacrifice himself to god and that the sacraments were merely external signs of faith. The key to salvation was the Bible. The followers of Calvin were assured of their possible salvation through three presumptive tests prescribed by Calvin himself: An open profession of faith A decent and godly life Men should participate in the sacrament of baptism and communion For Calvin, the true marks of the church were to rightly preach the word of god and administer the sacraments properly. In Switzerland, he published his Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536), which was his foundational work for Calvinism, in the Swiss city of Basel. He accepted most of Luthers ideas but differed on the role of the state in church affairs. Calvin replaced the Catholic Church with a democratic system whereby each individual assembly elected its ministers and governed its policies. Calvins social thought is believed to have indirectly promoted commercial activity. Money was not regarded as an evil but as a necessity for the support and sustenance of society. The use of money should be governed according to the laws of justice and equity. Calvin linked economic activity to the needs of the community. Calvin established a theocracy in Geneva by 1540. Geneva became the new center of the Reformation in Europe. It became home to Protestant exiles from England, Scotland, and France, who later returned to their countries with

Calvinist ideas. Only those who committed to follow Calvinism were allowed to live in the city. Calvin believed church and city should combine to enforce Christian behaviour. Calvinism was the most militant and uncompromising of all Protestant sects. Activities such as drinking, singing, dancing, and gambling were prohibited. Calvinists emphasized the importance of hard work and accompanying financial success as a sign that God was pleased. The spread of Calvinism had far greater impact on future generations than Lutheranism. The basic factor contributing to the spread and survival of Calvinism was its flexibility. The twin pillars of Calvinism were its effective organization and its clearly defined doctrine of predestination. The doctrine of predestination constituted the most important element of Calvins social thought. One of the main functions of this doctrine was to emphasize the grace and lore of God. Calvin argued that salvation comes from Gods grace. For him, salvation was predetermined irrespective of mans merits or demerits. Spread of Calvinism Scotland Presbyterianism by John Knox in 1560 Presbyters established a national church became the dominant religion in Scotland France extensive resulted in civil war During the Wars of Religion, the Huguenots (French Calvinists) side had definite political motives and powerful support. They were brutally suppressed in France. It was especially strong among the nobility although Calvinism saw converts from every social class. Netherlands Dutch reformed church dominant religion revolt against the Inquisition of King Philip II of Spain England Puritanism Puritans pressured Elizabeth I for more reforms established colonies in America in New England Calvinism did not spread in Ireland, Spain, and Italy since it was highly Catholic. The success of Calvinism is located in its effective organization and clarity of thought. Its church could operate effectively either with the state cooperation or as a self contained unit.