Who calls Calvinism 'easy-believism'?
I have heard that charge leveled at the Arminians, not the Calvinists.
As for James, I cannot speak for the author and have not read the book, so I will give my view on it as one who does believe in eternal security.
James is dealing with how the world sees our faith, Paul deals with how God sees our faith.
That is why Paul deals with Abraham in Gen.15 when he was first justified and James with Abraham in Gen.22 when Abraham made that justification a visible fact to the entire world.
Ed, I don't agree with you often, but amen brother....amen.