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Real Varieties of Calvinism
Can there be real, recognizable varieties of Calvinism? My previous post may have suggested that there could not be such recognizable varieties. That’s not the case. There are several ways in which Calvinism could be divided. For example, with respect to the salvation of infants who die in infancy, there are four Calvinist views, namely…
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Five Points Compared to a Few Soteriologies
For those interested, I thought it would fun to provide a tableshowing acceptance of TULIP’s various petals (T = Total Depravity, U =Unconditional Election, L = Limited Atonement, I = Irresistible Grace,P = Perseverance of the Saints). T U L I P Pelagian No No No No No Pelagian ES No No No No Yes…
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Calvinism Distinguished Historically
Nomenclature is important. Generally speaking, Calvinism as distinct from Arminianism is the result of the controversy provoked by the Remonstrants and addressed by the Synod of Dordt. People seem to lose site of this important historical concept. This controversy essentially provided a definition of Calvinism as distinct from Arminianism, characterized by five points. The “five…
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Seers, Choice, Open Theism, Molinism, and Calvinism
The recent vampire movie, Twilight, contains a cinematic element that is frequently employed: a seer, a character in the movie that can see the future. Most movies that I’ve seen generally treat the visions of seers in one of two ways:1) As projections based on a current but mutable stream of events; and2) As inevitabilities.…
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James White is Not A Hyper-Calvinist
I am surprised I have to put this in writing. Dr. James White, a leading Calvinist apologist, is not a hyper-calvinist. He is a Calvinist. He is a five point Calvinist. Other Calvinists recognize this. A few folks who would be classified as “Amyraldians” or “Four-Point Calvinists” because they deny the doctrine of the Limited…
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Clarifying Atonement Analogy
I had written: To go back to the ransom analogy, if the cost to ransom any and all captives is $1 Million, then a payment of $1 Million is sufficient for all, even if it is not intended or used to free all the captives. As I feared, this appears to have led to some…
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More Response to Godismyjudge
Godismyjudge (GIMJ) has responded again (link). My reply, for the few still interested, follows. *** I previously wrote: That we are not the reason God chooses us has nothing to do with determinism. GIMJ responded: “I think most folks would disagree with this statement, but I will let them decide that and won’t argue this…
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More on Calvinism and Determinism – Disambiguated
Godismyjudge (GIMJ) has provided a new entry in our on-going discussion on Calvinism, Molinism, and “determinism.” (link) For those interested in that discussion (perhaps only GIMJ), I’ve responded below. GIMJ wrote: Turretinfan responded to my post on Calvinism and Determinism. (link) The purpose of my post was to point out that Calvinists are determinists and…
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Calvinism and Determinism: a Response
Godismyjudge (GIMJ) has provided a post with the title “Calvinism and Determinism,” in which his thesis is: “It seems Calvinism is simply determinism in the context of soteriology.” (source) I have a number of reactions to this sort of comment: 1) Let’s suppose the thesis is correct. Then what? Applying the label “determinism” to Calvinism…
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Ventriloquist Theology
Some anonymous commenter has repeatedly tried to post the following comment on various posts on this blog. He seems to be taking the approach of the widow to the unjust judge – forcing me to face his criticism by relentlessly pursuing his cause. Since it wearies me so to keep hitting the “reject,” and thereby…