There, was that so hard? You made an accusation and it is only right to provide the source. Don’t take offense when asked to do so.
But before I answer your post, I would like to say that the source you provided:
-Is Hypocritical. Why? They claim to be “Bible Only” and then proceed to tell the reader what they should believe. The author/s of the site are doing the exact same thing confessional Christians do in looking at Scripture and then interpreting said doctrine.
-Is Intolerant. Based on the venomous tone I suspect they would like to persecute folks who don’t believe exactly as they do.
So, what do we do about Calvin?
There is obviously no excuse for some of Calvin’s behavior. BUT he grew up in a time when the church and the state were so intertwined that heresy was considered capital offense because it was a threat to the state.
Servetus seemed to take great pride in poking the leaders of Geneva with his heresy. He threatened to return to Geneva and Calvin, who was under threat of death by Rome, traveled into Catholic territory and begged Servetus not to do so. Guess what? Servetus did just that. He wanted to overthrow the Government of Geneva. (looking for my reference)
Again, Calvin’s actions cannot be excused. But nor can any one else’s from that time. He was a product of his time and his behavior was nothing unusual for Europe. And let’s not forget that the punishment for the behaviors listed in your source, if accurate, are based on Old Testament laws. We certainly don’t prosecute folks to the OT standards today like they did in the middle ages, but in same cases we still do. Are we right to do so?
It’s late, and I have to get up early. Blessings
“But before I answer your post, I would like to say that the source you provided:
-Is Hypocritical. Why? They claim to be “Bible Only” and then proceed to tell the reader what they should believe. The author/s of the site are doing the exact same thing confessional Christians do in looking at Scripture and then interpreting said doctrine.
-Is Intolerant. Based on the venomous tone I suspect they would like to persecute folks who don’t believe exactly as they do.”
If you don’t like the link I provided that is ok...there are many others that confirm the intransigence of both Luther and Calvin. Google it...
Luther and Calvin were both Roman Catholic Priests. Their similarities relate to their intolerance of any religious views other than their own. Luther kept all the trappings of the Roman church in his church, while Calvin stripped the church to bare walls. And so you have it...Lutherans and Prysbeterians, in all of their various hues.
Later in England there were two brothers, both Anglican Priests, the Wesley’s. From them sprang the Methodists, though they themselves continued to be Anglican Priests.
The anabaptists spawned such as Menonites, Amish and of course the various branches of the Baptists.