Slide 2
Born in town called Noyon in Picardy region of France
Died at age 54
Second Generation of Reformed Theologists
Published Institutes of The Christian Religion in 1536, it was written as an
introductory textbook on Protestant Faith
Final Version was finished in 1559, much longer and in depth
Slide 3
Protestantism is a form of Christian faith and practice which originated with the
Protestant Reformation
Total Depravity - Humanity is stained by sin in every aspect: heart, emotions, will,
mind and body. This means people cannot independently choose God. God must
intervene to save people.
Unconditional Election - God chooses who will be saved. Those people are called the
Elect. God picks them based not on their personal character or seeing into the
future, but out of his kindness and sovereign will. Since some are chosen for
salvation, others are not. Those not chosen are the damned, destined for eternity in
hell.
Limited Atonement - Jesus Christ died only for the sins of the Elect / some say he
died for everyone (4 point Calvinism)
Irresistible Grace - God brings his Elect to salvation through an internal call, which
they are powerless to resist. The Holy Spirit supplies grace to them until they repent
and are born again.
Perseverance of the Saints - The Elect cannot lose their salvation, Calvin said.
Because salvation is the work of God the Father; Jesus Christ, the Savior; and the
Holy Spirit, it cannot be thwarted. Safe forever
Slide 4
The state was created by God to maintain peace and equity in a sinful world. The
state, however, does not have the freedom to do as it pleases, for it is under the rule
of God’s law. Divine law is the basis of the church’s administration, but this law is
also the foundation of the state.
According to Calvin, the church has a role to play with regard to the state. The
church is responsible, Calvin believed, to set forth the biblical teaching concerning
the state and its function. Yet, and this is basic to Calvin’s thought, the church is not
to rule the state. Calvin believed in a theocracy, not an ecclesiocracy. Both the rulers
of the church and the civil magistrates are directly responsible to God for their
actions, but they do not rule over each other. The church may admonish the
magistrate as to what God’s law says, but cannot determine how that law is to be
applied in matters of civil jurisdiction. The magistrate may advise the church
concerning matters relating to civil affairs, but cannot force the church to conform
to civil rules in its teachings, worship, or government. In this, Calvin laid down very
clearly the principle of the separation of the functions of church and state. They are
related and mutually supportive, but also independent of each other. This means, if
the state attempts to interfere in the operation of the church or seeks to restrict its
spiritual work, the church has the right and duty to disobey, although it will have to
suffer the consequences of such disobedience.
Slide 5
Those who wanted to become ministers were first examined by the consistory,
made up of ministers and elders of the churches, as to their morals and knowledge
of the biblical teachings and their ability to serve as pastors. When approved, they
were then presented to the city council, who would be responsible for their financial
support. Finally, they were presented to the people, who had the right either to
accept or reject them. The congregation as a whole thus had the final say as to who
would be the minister.
Ruler is ultimately appointed in and by the providence of God. Calvin did not favor
the idea of succession by right of birth. Rather, he believed free election was the best
method of establishing a ruler. He did not, however, declare that all non-elected
rulers were illegitimate. But he did hold that election by the citizenry was the means
whereby God would choose the individuals most suitable for the exalted position of
magistrate.
They had to earn their place instead of just being handed it. God establishes states
ruled by magistrates who have the duty of enforcing the divine laws in order to
maintain justice and equity. Calvin believed, however, that magistrates who are
elected are more likely to rule justly than those who take control by inheritance or
force. Furthermore, the tyrannical heredity ruler, as well as the one who illegally
seized power, could be resisted even to the point of removal by the duly constituted
magistrates of the realm.
Slide 6
1) Wanted to help to pacify the popular classes and civilize everyday life, making the
task of governing easier and decreasing the need for coercion
- The state and church had each other in mind when coming up with reforms
2) engendered new forms of non-state governance, mechanisms of social control
and moral regulation that were consonant with the goals of political elites but not
directly and/or formally subject to their authority (for example, ecclesiastical
discipline and church-based social provision)///projects of social disciplining and
self mastery
-religion is the bond that holds society together
3) mobilized elite energies for projects of social, educational reform, and political
reform by aligning ideal interests in spiritual salvation
-Cities throughout Europe issued new poor-relief ordinances, which gave urban
magistrates greater control over the dispensation of alms and discriminated
between the truly deserving poor-the young, the old, the infirm-and the able-bodied
poor, providing aid to the former and setting the latter to work
-elementary schools created, logic, ethics, mathematics, and political thought were
explained and taught
4) generated new models of social regulation, and political administration, which
could, and did, serve as inspirations or models for secular ones (for example,
surveillance of the poor or bureaucratization of state administration)
-the state modeled it’s institutions off of institutions and ideas the church created
Slide 7
Henry IV- to regularise state finance, promote agriculture, drain swamps, undertake
public works, and encourage education
Upon the death of Henry III on 2 August 1589, Henry of Navarre nominally became
king of France. The Catholic League, however, strengthened by support from outside
the country—especially from Spain—was strong enough to prevent a universal
recognition of his new title. “Paris is worth a mass”
Wars of Religion- The French Wars of Religion (1562–98) is the name of a period of
civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics
and Protestants (Huguenots). The conflict involved the factional disputes between
the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise
(Lorraine), and both sides received assistance from foreign sources.
Edict of Nantes granted the Huguenots substantial religious, political and military
autonomy.
The Edict separated civil from religious unity, treated some Protestants for the first
time as more than mere schismatics and heretics, and opened a path for secularism
and tolerance. In offering general freedom of conscience to individuals, the Edict
offered many specific concessions to the Protestants, such as amnesty and the
reinstatement of their civil rights, including the right to work in any field or for the
State and to bring grievances directly to the king.
Catholics rejected the apparent recognition of Protestantism as a permanent
element in French society and still hoped to enforce religious uniformity, while
Protestants aspired to parity with Catholics. Re-establishing royal authority in
France required internal peace, based on limited toleration enforced by the crown.
Since royal troops could not be everywhere, Huguenots needed to be granted
strictly circumscribed possibilities of self-defense
While it granted certain privileges to Huguenots, the edict reaffirmed Catholicism as
the established religion of France. Protestants gained no exemption from paying the
tithe[6] and had to respect Catholic holidays and restrictions regarding marriage.
Slide 8
In 1568 the Netherlands, led by William I of Orange, revolted against Philip II
because of high taxes, persecution of Protestants by the government, and Philip's
efforts to modernize and centralize the devolved-medieval government structures
of the provinces. This was the start of the Eighty Years' War.
In 1579 a number of the northern provinces of the Low Countries signed the Union
of Utrecht, in which they promised to support each other in their defence against the
Spanish army. This was followed in 1581 by the Act of Abjuration, the declaration of
independence of the provinces from Philip II.
The Duchy of Guelders (Gelderland in Dutch)
The County of Holland
The County of Zeeland
The Lordship of Utrecht (formerly the Episcopal principality of Utrecht)
The Lordship of Overijssel
The Lordship of Frisia
The Lordship of Groningen and Ommelanden.
The republic was a confederation of seven provinces, which had their own
governments and were very independent, and a number of so-called Generality
Lands. The latter were governed directly by the States General (Staten-Generaal in
Dutch), the federal government. The States General were seated in The Hague and
consisted of representatives of each of the seven provinces Each province was
governed by the Provincial States, the main executive official, the stadtholders, were
freely appointed by and subordinate to the states of each province
e.g. French Huguenots, English Independents (Congregationalists), and Jews from
Spain and Portugal meaning they could practice any religion they wanted
Dutch Republic dominated world trade in the 17th century, conquering a vast
colonial empire and operating the largest fleet of merchantmen of any nation. The
County of Holland was the wealthiest and most urbanized region in the world.