In Reply to: Re: response reposted posted by mir on May 17, 2010 at 10:32:11:
Mir:
Yeah, I think about Cavinism/Reformed as one and the same; essentially with little or no difference.
The dates on Luther and Calvin are a little different (see ); though.
The Greeks had their own "god ideas" about ultra-predestinion/fate, etc--a lot of Europeans hung on to those ideas as religious philosophy, over the years, I'm sure.
I believe a distorted view about sovereignty was brought to the Scripture by Calvin (extremely well-educated for his time BEFORE encountering Christian theology), as a well-intentioned ~25-year-old in a hurry to combat the ultra-works-trip of the French Sorbonne University, and their militant apologists/persecutors.
In "true sovereignty" (my term) God can give true free will any time he chooses; and He chooses a LOT (every time He saves ANYONE!)
He can also harden and condemn any time He chooses (2 Thes 2, Ro 11).
In many of their writings, I do not frequently trust the points of view/theologies/predictions/prophecies of either the very Catholic Aquinas or Augustine.
We SHOULD respect the limits God placed on Himself (the "kenosis" of Phillipians chapter 2).
I don't see the contradiction at all; except in human confusion, because of "philosophies and vain deceits" (Col 2).
I really like your posts; by the way--very gently and intelligently reasoned!
OT2