Speaking of the benighted John Calvin it could be said that he is easily the worlds most influential "philosopher"/theologian. Especially in the USA and increasingly throughout the entire world too as described in the recent book by Elle Hardy titled Beyond Belief.

Perhaps one of the most extreme statements of Calvinism can be found in the worse-than-awful book by Nancy Pearsey titled Total Truth - Liberating Christianity from its Cultural Captivity. Its Amazon review contains over 400 reviews most of which are in the 4 to 5 star category

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Dear Peter,

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Of course, Calvin and Luther both believed in the God hypothesis conceived by primeval man as an explanation of natural phenomena.

I understand that Bowsma depicts Calvin as an extraordinarily anxious person. Does the author suggest that it is this anxiety that led Calvin to place his faith in the God hypothesis despite his avowed inability to conceive of an “all-powerful, inscrutable, totally transcendent, judgmental God” ?

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Rhian,
Christianity represents the ultimate reality of freedom. Paul: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. The freedom of Christ is quite difference from modern liberalism. I looked up an old OLO piece from 2019 and found it quite good, even if I do say so myself.

https://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=8724&page=2

The self obsession of modern liberalism is the tightest captivity and a dead end.

Peter

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Dear Peter,

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Though they were two of the major Christian reformers of the 16th century, Luther and Calvin arrived too early on the scene to receive any benefit from the impending scientific revolution.

Their cosmological outlook remained firmly entrenched in a largely archaic religious magma – little evolved from that of primeval man – in which thunder was the voice of God, lightening his avenging missile, a river contained a spirit, a tree meant a man’s life, a snake embodied wisdom, and a mountain harboured a demon, a volcano … an earthquake … a bushfire … a snowstorm … a flood … a drought … etc.

It resulted in pleading, supplication, submission, prayer, worship, offerings, sacrifices … Jesus of Nazareth.

Psychology has always played a major role in mankind’s vision and interpretation of natural phenomena. It produced the God concept and religion – both of which continue to evolve and develop, adapting to scientific inroads and intellectual creativity, constantly occupying the vast, inexhaustible domain of the unknown.

The simple fact is religious faith has its roots firmly entrenched in the human psyche.

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