Calvinism

Calvinism is the system of theological thought attributed to John Calvin (1509-1564), who was one of the most prolific theologians during the Protestant Reformation. Within Calvinism, God's absolute sovereignty is the cornerstone of human salvation. As with Augustinianism, humans are altogether incapable of saving faith without God's election. However, Calvinism expanded this doctrine of predestination into what has come to be termed "double predestination": the negative corollary that, just as God has predetermined those who are to be saved ("the elect"), God has also predetermined those who are to be damned ("the reprobate"). This underlying concern on divine sovereignty informs the key tenets of Calvinism, which were canonized at the Synod of Dort (1618-1619), and which may be summarized by the mnemonic TULIP: humanity's Total depravity—that humans are entirely corrupt by nature; Unconditional election —that certain persons are predestined to salvation by God; Limited atonement—that Jesus's salvific death was/is limited to the elect only; Irresistible grace—that divine grace is infallibly efficacious against any human resistance; and the Perseverance of the saints—that the elect will necessarily remain faithful. Stemming back to the Synod itself, Calvinism is often set against Arminianism. John Wesley continued this polarization through his self-affiliation with Arminianism over against Calvinism.