Aim: Explain Calvin’s Protestant Teachings

Calvin Formalizes Protestant Ideas John Calvin- a young law student in Church doctrine influenced by Luther 1536: Calvin published Institute of the Christian Religion Expressed ideas about God, salvation, & human nature Wrote that men and women are sinful by nature Took Luther’s idea that humans cannot earn salvation Calvin added that God chooses people to save Believed that God has known who will be saved Doctrine was called Predestination Religion developed called Calvinism 2

Calvin Leads the Reformation Calvin believed that the ideal government was a Theocracy Government controlled by religious leaders 1541: Protestants in Geneva, Switzerland asked Calvin to lead city Calvin and followers ran city according to strict rules Everyone attended religious class No one wore bright clothing No card games Calvin’s Geneva was a model city of highly moral citizens 3

Calvinism Spreads One admiring visitor to Geneva was Scottish preacher John Knox 1559: Knox put Calvin’s ideas to work Followers of Knox became known as Presbyterians 1560’s: Protestant nobles made Calvinism Scotland’s official religion Swiss, Dutch, & French reformers adopted Calvinist form of Church Organization 4