Genevan Taproot: America’s Christian foundation or fatalistic ideology?
What on earth does earth does Geneva have to do with America? Interestingly, Josh Burek addresses the subject in this morning’s CSM. Here, Calvinism is described as the theological foundation for America’s patriotism, work ethic, sense of equality, public morality, and even elements of democracy.
In fact, he argues, they “all sprang in part from the Calvinist taproot of Puritan New England,” but in the next sentence he rails Calvinism as a “fatalistic and hopeless ideology.” The contrast seems striking, but Burek seems ok with it. Others view the subject with less division. The article is peppered with proponents and opponents of the doctrines commonly called Calvinism.
Either way, the congregation described and interviewed in the article seems less anxious to identify with Calvin and more anxious to identify their need for and love of Christ and His Word–and that’s refreshing.
