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I must admit that I'm joining this a tad late but in post 4654 you make the claim that Dr. E is stating Calvin believed God is the "author of evil" and then turn around and defend Calvin by saying that he stated no such thing. While I haven't peruse all of the posts, I can't find where Dr. E makes this claim. But your position sound very much like the Westminster Confession which states God is not the author of evil and is in full agreement with Calvin. God is not an author of evil.

That being said, it should be pointed out that God has been know to create calamitous events throughout history (famine, floods, giant meteors falling from the sky, raising up nasty people to attack others) to effect His will. Are these events evil? Some seem inclined to suggest they are and God would never do any of these things; even though it is recorded in His word that He did precisely that. I would suggest our definition of "evil" is misconstrued.

Perhaps I can sort this out for you since you were on vacation. Someone who claims to be a Calvinist was arguing that God is the source of evil. kosta and Kolo rebutted by making a distinction between foreknowledge and will. God's foreknowledge of evil does not mean he creates evil. I chimed in and said that was a distinction the early Protestant reformers made as well. Then Dr. E responded that that was not true.

I think we have reached a consensus that John Calvin taught and wrote that God in not the author of evil. And that is the point I wanted to make. These discussions are difficult enough without distorting what Calvin taught.