John Calvin, Protestant Theologians And Moralists

Could not, he's one of the key figures in European history. The man was John Calvin, Protestant theologians and moralists. His views are so wide range of issues such as theology, government, personal moral and work habits, more than four hundred years of influencing the behavior and life of millions of people.
John Calvin (real name: Jean Cauvin) was born in 1509
in the town of Noyon, France. He acquired a good education. After studying at the College de Montaigue in Paris, he entered the University of Orleans to study law. He also studied law in Bourges.
Calvin was only eight years old when Martin Luther put a poster. "Thesis" at the Wittenberg church door that led to the Protestant reformation. Calvin was raised as a Catholic, but as a young man he changed so Protestants. Avoid punishment, he immediately went to Paris where he had lived, and after wandering for a while, he settled in Basel, Switzerland. There he lived under a pseudonym and continues to deepen the theology. In the year 1536 when he reached age twenty-seven years diterbitkanlah his famous book Christian Religious Institutions. This book that gathers the main points of the Protestant faith and served in the form of a systematic and easy to digest, making it famous.

Later in the year 1536 he visited Geneva, where the Protestant schools of rapidly growing and becoming stronger. He asked to live there as a teacher and Protestant community leaders. However, conflict soon arose between the adherents of Calvin's harsh and puritanical with the people of Geneva, and in 1538 he was forced to leave the city. However, in the year 1541 he was invited to come again. This was done and he became not only religious leaders in the city, but at the same time be an effective political leader until his death in 1564.

In theory, Calvin has never been a dictator in Geneva. Many residents have the right to vote and many of the formal political power is held by a council consisting of twenty-five people. Calvin is not a member of this council. He could be moved at any moment (and it happened he was expelled in 1538) when he was not liked by the majority. However, in practice he's mastered the city. And after the year 1555 he was basically an autocrat.

Under the leadership of Calvin, Geneva became a prominent Protestant center of Europe. Calvin persistently trying to encourage progress and growth of Protestantism in other countries, especially in France, and Geneva have temporarily dubbed "bumps Protestant". The first thing he did return in Geneva is the outline ecclesiastical rules for church renewal there. During the Geneva of Calvin wrote many influential religious essays. These essays to be the benchmark for renewal churches in Europe, and along with that he has continued to improve Christianity Institution book. He also gave a series of lectures on theology and the Gospel.

Calvin is a city Jenewanya somewhat puritanical and tough. Not only adultery and free relationship is considered serious crimes, but also gambling, drinking and dancing and singing songs digress all forbidden and can result in severe penalties fall. Visits to the church during the hours set by the event is a legal order and the length of the sermon has become a habit.

Calvin is very encouraging diligence work. He also encourage learning. In the University of Geneva was founded pemerintahannyalah.

Calvin those who do not know tolerance, and who is considered an apostate, can be a curse and punishment in Geneva. Victim of the famous (though there were not many) was Michael Servetus, a physician and theologian who does not believe the doctrine of the Trinity. When Servetus arrived in Geneva, he was arrested, tried on charges of apostasy, and sentenced to be burned to charred charcoal (1553). Also, some people accused of a witch to live a similar fate in his administration.

Calvin died in Geneva in 1564. He was married, but his wife passed away in 1549 and her only child was born dead.

Calvin significance lies not in immediate political kegiatari, but on the disiarkannya ideology. Emphasis on the power and significance of the gospel, and, like Luther, rejected habits and the importance of the Roman Catholic church. And like Luther, St.. And St. Augustine. Paul, Calvin holds to the opinion that all men were sinners, and salvation is not due to work fine but solely through faith. The most impressive was Calvin's thoughts about the fate and the damned. According to Calvin, God has taken a decision - without consideration of the virtues he had done - if someone is saved or damned. If so, why should someone have to do and good morals? Answer Calvin is "the chosen" (the people chosen by God to accept the Prophet Jesus because it received liberation sin) was also chosen by God to do right. We are not safe since been done correctly. We are not safe since been doing good, but we do good because God has chosen us to be saved from sin. Although it seems strange doctrine, undoubtedly it has inspired the followers of Calvin to live in obedience and plain incredible.

Calvin had great influence contributed to the world. Theological doctrine ultimately win more support than that obtained by Luther. Although the northern German and Scandinavian Lutherans are regions that are rooted, but Switzerland and the Netherlands became the Calvinists. There are few believers in Calvin in Poland, Hungary and Germany. The Presbyterian in Scotland is a Calvinist, like the people in the French Huguenots and the Puritans in England. Puritan Influence in America, of course, quite strong and durable.

Calvin Jenewanya a city closer to a theocracy than democracy, but if traced-teller, in the end will seem likewise increased democratic phenomena. Or it could also result because the followers of Calvin in many countries is a minority, they choose better just rely on the power-authority than beraneh strange behavior. Or caused because of factors influence own church organizational structure that gives a little more color to the attitude of their actions against the outside world. But, for whatever reason, the power base of the original Calvinist (Switzerland, the Netherlands and the UK) became the basis of all democratic forces.

There are demands recognition that the doctrine of Calvin is the main factor forming the so-called "Protestant work ethics", and is the main factor is also the growth of capitalism. In this case rather difficult to set up how far and many levels of Calvinists who held the role. Dutch, for example, have a bearing industrious population, long before Calvin was born into the world. Conversely, also discourage unwarranted sense of Calvin's call to followers to work hard. (It should probably be noted, Calvin was allowed renten (usury), something hard condemned by moralists, before the Christian moralist. Renten this is one important factor in the growth of capitalism).

How high should the position of Calvin should be placed on a chronological list of this book? Calvin's influence has declined in Europe and especially North America. And furthermore, it was obvious his influence with the sharp decline in the last century. And in some cases, the position of Calvinism have been displaced by earlier figures like the Prophet Jesus, St. Paul and Luther.

Although the Protestant reformation had meaning as a historical event, it is also clear that Martin Luther was the figure most responsible for the resurrection. Calvin himself just one of many other influential Protestant leaders who came after Luther. Because it is clear that Calvin should be placed in the order far below Luther. On the other hand, Calvin must be placed above the-philosophers philosophers such as Voltaire and Rousseau in part because of growing influence within two times the length than their influence, and partly because its ideas penetrated deeply into the hearts of his followers.Michael H. Hart,One hundred most influential figures in the history.