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"If you're a Calvinist then you aren't a literalist either. The Bible literally says that all who believe in him shall have eternal life.... not an elite few."

I guess that I could argue that you don't seem to have a good grasp of the tenets of Calvinism, but I will choose to answer you with a simple question: Who will believe? (See Romans 3 for the state of man, and recognize that it is only by the divine intervention of God that any of us are saved.)

You're right, I don't really have a good grasp of Calvinism. It just seems pointless to even consider who the "elect" are or even to create a sect that even discusses it as Calvininist do. If things are pre-ordained... and yet we must all still hope/strive for salvation anyway... and G_d already knows who will succeed (and I don't dispute that) why should we even dwell on that aspect.

I'm not sure I worded that question correctly... If the elect are already known.... so be it... but whats the point of having a sect based on that belief... its seems fruitless as you can't change anything by that understanding. It just strikes me as a philosophy that could be used to create a horror... a horror of elitism. "We're better because G-d has already for-ordained our salvation... we are your superiors." Do Calvinist believe that only Calvinist can be of the "elect"?

I have to admit that Calvinism has always fascinated me.