[xzins]

I just think that it's interesting that, at the end of the day, even Protestant denominations who revile the teachings of John Calvin still want to call themselves "Calvinists", "Calviminians", "moderate Calvinists", and what have you; whereas no expressly-Calvinistic denomination has any interest whatsoever in calling itself "Arminian".

In the many years I've discussed calvin on these pages, I think I've learned quite a bit about him and his theology. I have mountains more to learn.

His was a commendable Christian life and theology replete with a few warts in each area... far fewer than I have in my own life.

I have no problem understanding why so many admired, admire, and are willing to be identified with him.

[bethelgrad]

Chaplain,

I consider myself an Arminian in the Wesleyan tradition. However, I generally consider these discussions to be too divisive--and besides, as a fellow military chaplain, I rarely find this to be an issue in my ministry, where it pays to avoid non-essential items--and I consider this a non-essential. I offer Christ to my people, not Calvin, Arminius, or Apollos.

That being said, I think many on my side shy away from reading the Reformers because of the divisiveness of some of their representatives. I am currently reading Calvin's Institutes, and have discovered a humility in his writing lacking in his followers.