[UA] Calvinism Vs. Free Will

[Greg Stolze]

>Friday, June 15, 2001, 1:48:07 PM, Nick wrote:
>
>NW> One of the more Puritanical sects that founded our contry had such
>NW> beliefs... I think it was the Calvinists, but could be completely
>NW> wrong. But money was seen as a reward and sign you were going to
>NW> heaven.
>
>The calvinists were 'odd'.  They believed in predestination, and that
>only a certain number of people would be saved and thus, due to
>predestination, were technically already saved.  It didn't matter what
>you did, because either you were already going to be saved, or you
>were already going to be damned.  Of course, if you were going to be
>saved, then you were going to be holy, so doing holy acts made it more
>likely that you were one of the people predestined to be saved.

My understanding of Calvinism involves the most malevolent image of God I
can imagine.  I HOPE I'm wrong, but their complete predestination schtick
works like this.

God makes some people to be saved.  They will be saved.  God makes some
people to be damned.  They will be damned.  Because human actions are
meaningless next to the immensity of God's power, only faith can produce
salvation.  So your actions have NO EFFECT on your salvation.  It only
matters if you believe at the moment of death.

Some of the people who are born to go to hell are going to lead godly, holy
lives but have a moment of doubt on their deathbeds and be condemned to
eternal torment.  Some of the people who are born to go to heaven are going
to be evil shitweeds for 99.9% of their lives, but will have a deathbed
conversion and will be blessed with eternal bliss.

(I got this from a girl who'd gone to a Calvinist high school.  She said
the suicide rates were through the roof.)

-G.

Reality is when you're peeking through a keyhole, and someone comes up
behind you and kicks you in the balls.
        -Jim Harrison (paraphrased)

www.waylay.com
www.thehungersite.com



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