Calvinism
Calvinism (also called the Reformed tradition', Reformed Christianity, Reformed Protestantism, or the Reformed faith) is a major branch of protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice of John Calvin and other Reformation-ear theology.
Calvinists broke from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. Calvinism differs from Lutherans on the real presence of Christ in the the eucharist, theroies of worship, and the use of God's Law for believers, among other things. Its basic principle is that the Bible is to be interpreted by itself, meaning the parts that are harder to understand are examined in the light of other passages where the Bible is more explicit on the matter. The term Calvinism can be misleading, because the religious tradition which it denotes has always been diverse, with a wide range of influences rather than a single founder. The movement was first called Calvinism by Lutherans who opposed it, and many within the tradition would prefer to use the word Reformed.
Most objections to, and attacks on Calvinism focus on the "five points of Calvinism," also called the doctrines of grace, and remembered by the acronym "TULIP." The five points were more recently popularized in the 1963 booklet The Five Points of Calvinism Defined, Defended, Documented by David N. Steele and Curtis C. Thomas. The origins of the five points and the acronym are uncertain.
The "five points of Calvinism," even if they are (or are not) what John Calvin taught are very much preached in churches today.
Are the TULIP doctrines correct?
· Total depravity
· Unconditional election
· Limited atonement
· Irresistible grace
· Preseverance of the saints