Arminianism: A Liberal Spin on Calvinist Ideology

Last week's article delved into the core beliefs of Calvinism. While the harsh and sometimes unforgiving belief system developed by John Calvin in the sixteenth century appealed to many, others sought a less rigorous belief system, and many found it in the theology of Jacobus Arminius, a seventeenth century Dutch theologian.

Like Calvin, Arminius believed in predestination. However, while Calvin's theology was, at best, unforgiving, Arminius allowed for free will and extended the possibility of salvation through Christ to all (unlimited atonement). God had elected those who would be saved through his foreknowledge of those who would choose to accept Christ. Unlike Calvinism, none were chosen for hell. While Calvin believed that all men were tainted by sin, Armininians believed that men were tainted by their own sin, but not by original sin.

While strict Calvinists believed that election insured salvation regardless of the actions of the saved, the Arminians believed that salvation could be lost on the basis of action and that one must continue to keep Christian values in order to remain one of the elect (conditional perseverance).

Arminianism allowed for the potential for redemption through belief and prayer. The soul, through the influence of the Holy Spirit, could work along with God to ensure salvation (prevenient grace).

Arminianism grew and developed into, or influenced, many modern Protestant sects, including Methodism and the Free Will Baptists. Arminianism played a particularly prominent role in England in the later seventeenth century.

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