LOL! (Out of happiness, I might add!)
"Have you read Edwin Palmer's The Five Points of Calvinism. Palmer, who is now deceased, must surely be considered to be one of the pre-eminent scholars in the area of the Dutch/Christian Reformed branch of Calvinism. Read his book and then tell me my take on at least the CRC view of Calvinism is misplaced. BTW, I was once a member of the CRC and my ex-wife grew up in the CRC. The CRC overemphsizes total depravity to the point that it professes that there is not even a small bit of goodness in any person.
I, too, was born and raised CRC -your experience was far far different than mine or of any of the CRC friends I know.
"She also got the "one ought not to think highly of ones self"; a prescription for potentially severe emotional and self-image problems. At least one would have to ackknowledge that the CRC recognizes this problem; after all the CRC does support three psychiatric hospitals, one of which my ex was admitted to for three extended visits. BTW, she divorced me, and it wasn't because I was unfaithful. She blamed me for the lack of communication in our marriage, but after she filed for divorce, admitted she never expressed her inner feelings because "some people just prefer to keep their feelings to themselves". Her parents never told her the words "I love you" or demonstrated unconditional love towards her. Even after she filed for divorce, her parents only called her once after she left town just to see if she arrived in another city safely. Isn't that sick?"
WWWAAAAAYYYYYYYY to much informaition! This kinda stuff is on a strict 'need to know' basis, Connect.
OK, for the record, I am one of the happiest (and joyful) people you'd expect to meet -which I wholeheartedly believe is due to the reformed theology I believe.
Jean
Well, I am the most optimistic and content/happy person many people know; at least that is what they have told me. It is not because of reformed theology, although I certainly believe that there are members of the CRC who are indeed happy and have no reason to doubt that you are one of those. That said, I went to a "'Mere Christianity' Worldview Weekend Conference" in which one of the presenters, obviously a Calvinist based on his statements and his 'Dutch' name (I actually confirmed this with him afterwards), stated that a Christian should not be 'happy' but should only experience 'joy'. I am happy to know that at least one reformed Calvinist agrees with me.
BTW, are you still CRC, or one of those 'apostate' Reformed Church members. LOL. There is a difference, as you must know. I know lots of Reformed Church people who are 'happy'.
Have a HAPPY day,
CTD