Marrow Man
Drunk with Powder
Cal.vini.st referenced this post by McLaren on his blog. Here's is the relevant (ha!) snipet, in reference to a "why do people dislike you?" question. The following is one of those groups mentioned by McLaren:
Hmmm, the progressive Calvin. I suppose that might correct in one light, but somehow I doubt McLaren would have gotten far in Geneva. But hey, even the neo-orthodox managed to draft Calvin to their side.Strict 5-Point Double-Predestinarian "Truly-Reformed" Calvinists. I spent many years as a card-carrying (should I say "tulip-toting"?) Calvinist. I understand its appeal from the inside, because it's a highly coherent (from the inside), self-reinforcing closed system, and it gives its defenders a feeling of true superiority, in a humble-yet-exclusively-privileged sort of way. But I believe Calvinism (of this strict, 5 point, TR - or "truly reformed" - sort) rests on some erroneous assumptions. One of those assumptions is what Lesslie Newbigin called the greatest heresy of monotheism, namely, a misunderstanding of election as being for exclusive privilege rather than for suffering and service for the common good. In addition, many Calvinists define the gospel as a theory of atonement (penal substitutionary atonement, to be specific). I define the gospel as Jesus and his announcement that the kingdom of God is at hand. (More on this in SMJ, if you're interested.) Obviously, Calvinists of this sort (especially strict Westminster Confessionalists) believe I've left the reservation.
By the way, there's another way to understand Calvin - as a brilliant, open, progressive and creative leader rather than a tense reactionary, entrenched enforcer/inquisitor. But that's another story.