Luiseach

Hello:

I teach a literature course and the issue of Calvinism and predestination came up in relation to textual analysis.

My understanding is that predestination is one of the central tenets of Calvinism. Am I correct?

Furthermore, my understanding of predestination is the following: God is omniscient and knows the past, present and future; he knows what human beings will do; he knows which human beings will go to Heaven and which ones will go to Hell.

Since God knows what will happen, human beings cannot control the trajectories of their lives because they are predestined to act in such ways that will lead to salvation or damnation. No matter what they do, they couldn't have done otherwise, because God has forseen it all. Hence, the issue of free will seems to become a moot point within the parameters of this doctrine.

If I'm right, and free will is meaningless because of predestination, then human beings cannot be held morally responsible for either their goodness or their wickedness. God has written the script of history, as it were, and human beings merely fulfil their allotted roles. Or is it that God's omniscience is offset by his inability to change what will happen; does predestination imply that God is not omnipotent?

I would greatly appreciate some input on this. I have one student - deeply religious and a bit miffed by my take on Calvinism/predestination - which has made me think that I have misinterpreted the doctrine.

Thank you very much in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Godot

I'm not sure as it relates to Calvinism, but you certainly hit the nail on the head with respect to the predestination/free will conundrum.
Your student is probably pissed because your explanation of the problem puts him/her in one of two equally untenable positions.

excreationist

Maybe they're not "morally" responsible... but the threat of punishment and the hope of reward still works to some degree even if people act in a deterministic way.

Here's some links that appear to be pro-Calvinistic - they might help you understand it better.
The Five Points of Calvinism
Free will and Calvinism slides
Calvinism FAQ
The last one has an interesting series of 30 boxes that explain it all. I'm not sure if all Calvinists agree with all of that though. (You could see if that student agrees with those 30 boxes.)

"1. God ordains or permits all things that come to pass, including human decisions, and nothing can thwart His decrees. "
"2. It is for this reason that He knows all things past, present, and future."
"8. God did not choose everyone [not all will be saved]."
"9. and He made His unchangeable selection based only on His Sovereign, gracious will, without regard to anything intrinsic to any one."
"25. With regard to the non-elect, those who are not chosen [by God?] to salvation, all but the most extreme Calvinists acknowledge God's love for all people and that He takes no pleasure in the death of any one."
"28. Furthermore, everyone has sinned willfully against God, and so God would be just to condemn everyone."
"29. Yet Calvinists do not believe that God actively condemned the non-elect out of malice, but rather "gave them over" to their own desires. God still commands all people everywhere to repent, and those who oppose God's general invitation to salvation do so by their own choice."

Anyway, it is saying that predestination is just and people are still choosing... though God knows the future and "permits" people to make their choices about things...

keyser_soze

And don't forget to bring up the potter analogy, and exodus, you don't want them forgetting that god hardens whom he will harden.

DRFseven

In the form of "Joe Christmas?"

Luiseach

Hey guys, thanks for all your help...much appreciated!

excreationist: those are brilliant resource links...I'll give my student the 'questionnaire,' and see if she agrees/disagrees with the statements regarding Calvinism.

keyser-soze: Wha?

DRFseven: Never heard of 'Joe Christmas,' I'm afraid. Care to enlighten?

DRFseven

Joe Christmas is a character from Faulkner's Light in August; he's the pin-up boy for Calvanistic predeterminism.

keyser_soze

It can be shown that god favors the predeterminism route. The potter-clay analogy in the good book, as well as the exodus(really the same thing) actions against pharoah point out that god already knows and shapes the individual to his liking and purpose, thereby negating free will. Something I like to point out to those fundy's who think that they can have individual say in the matter.

Luiseach

Godot!

I didn't see your brief but helpful reply before...thank you for your input.

I think you're right, btw, about the conundrum I managed to introduce to our tutorial discussion about the Calvinistic underpinnings of a novel we were studying.

I'll look forward to hearing her thoughts on the subject during the next tutorial meeting.

Luiseach

I really must get around to reading more American Literature.

*hangs head in shame*