Calvinism and Romanism
John Calvin was trained in Roman Catholicism by the Roman Catholic Church. His theological hero was the Roman Catholic theologian, Augustine, who is also known as “The Father of the Inquisition,” because he taught that heretics should be tortured and murdered.* This, and not “Sola Scriptura (Scripture Only),” is the foundation upon which Calvinism stands.
1. Baptism
John Calvin was “baptized” in the Roman Catholic Church. There is no record that he repudiated his Roman Catholic “baptism” or was “rebaptized.”
2. Teaching
He got much of his theology from the Roman Catholic theologian, Augustine, and he constantly alluded to Augustine’s Roman Catholic writings.
3. His Own Admission
Calvin the Protestant actually admitted he was a student and follower of the Roman Catholic superstar theologian, Augustine. (Augustine, one of the most influential Roman Catholic theologians, could not even read Greek!)
4. State Church
Calvin believed the Church and State should operate together. When he was reigning as “Protestant Pope” in Geneva, his government enforced church law. All citizens, even the “non-elect,” were forced to attend the Calvinistic church.
5. Religious Freedom
Like his Roman Catholic mentors, Calvin did not believe in religious freedom. Those who did not believe in his views were kicked out of Geneva, tortured or murdered by beheading or burning at the stake.
6. Hatred for the Truth and the People of the Truth
Calvin despised the Anabaptists (Baptists) who were the leading proponents of unadulterated Biblical truth in his day. He hated Biblical baptism and taught against it.
7. Torture and Murder
The Catholic church routinely tortured and murdered dissenters. Calvin followed the practice also. Under his reign of terror in Geneva, at least 23 supposed witches** were burned at the stake (a horribly painful death) and 14 were beheaded. His followers learned from him. The infamous Salem Witch Trials, in which 20 were murdered in Massachusetts were conducted by Calvinists.
As you study Calvin’s life and work, it becomes obvious that the influence of Roman Catholicism hung over him like a cloud. Although John Calvin left Romanism, Romanism never left Calvin or his teachings.
Footnotes:
*It was Augustine who wrote the first “Christian” justification for state persecution of those “in error,” those who did not believe as he did. Augustine argued, “error has no rights” and that coercion used to force conversions of those “in error” was God’s will. As historian Thomas Cahill sadly acknowledges, “The doctrine [Augustine] has enunciated will echo down the ages in the cruelest infamies, executed with the highest justification. Augustine, father of many firsts, is also father of the Inquisition.” (Thomas Cahill, How the Irish Saved Civilization, (New York: Doubleday, 1995) p. 65)
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