You need to study the history of that period. Every Christian felt that use of gov't force was justified in fighting evil and defending the Christian Faith. Calvin sent out missionaries even to Italy, where their capture was an instant death sentence.
Even if seemingly justified, surely there is something just as remarkable to publicly aire if Calvin was justified in strapping a book to a condemned man's chest and torturing him for 30 minutes while it burns before the victim burns to death. If not, then one must at least consider that perhaps Calvin was backslidden during this period.
Be very cautious about what you read about Servetus. Some anti-Calvinists (and anti-trinitians) have tried to turn him into a Christian saint. He wasn't. He was an anti-Christian heretic. And according to some things I've read (sorry I cant remember my source) Calvin did try to meet with him. And he tried to betray Calvin to the catholics. (since I cannot remember my source don't hold me on the last one.)
I would not believe any thing this article says. Simply because of it's wild accusations. Calvinism is a cult. Really Charles Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards, were both calvinists. Today D James Kennedy, RC Sproul are calvinist, I believe. I would not say that either of them are cultists.
by the way I'm not a calvinist. I just get annoyed when people on both sides get carried away.
got to run to work bye.
Bingo. This was the motivation behind the entire Arminian movement.
The Romanists supported and even financed the Remonstrants in order to undermine the Reformation.
Without that piece of knowledge, history looks arbitrary.
But history is never arbitrary. Especially political/economic history which is what really motivated the Arminians.