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In 1536, during an intended overnight stay in Geneva, Switzerland, Calvin met William Farel, another reformer. Farel, although a very strong preacher, lacked eloquence and the ability to argue well. He wanted Calvin to remain in Geneva and assist him in his preaching there.
In 1536, during an intended overnight stay in Geneva, Switzerland, Calvin met William Farel, another reformer. Farel, although a very strong preacher, lacked eloquence and the ability to argue well. He wanted Calvin to remain in Geneva and assist him in his preaching there.
Calvin had no wish to remain in Geneva. He wanted, instead, to continue his journey to Strasbourg. However, when Farel lost his temper with Calvin's stubborness and shouted,"If you refuse to dedicate yourself here with us to this work of God, God will curse you, for you seek yourself rather than Christ!", Calvin felt that God had called him to Geneva.
Calvin had no wish to remain in Geneva. He wanted, instead, to continue his journey to Strasbourg. However, when Farel lost his temper with Calvin's stubborness and shouted,"If you refuse to dedicate yourself here with us to this work of God, God will curse you, for you seek yourself rather than Christ!", Calvin felt that God had called him to Geneva.
At that time, Geneva was said to be a very immoral city. The people did not take kindly to Calvin clamping down on their "[[Libertarianism | liberty]]" (which was merely the liberty to do whatever thing-immoral or otherwise- they wanted). Calvin was threatened many times, banished once for three years, and insulted by having stray dogs named "Calvin" after him.
At that time, Geneva was said to be a very immoral city. Some people did not take kindly to Calvin clamping down on their "[[Libertarianism | liberty]]" (which was merely the license to do whatever they wanted-immoral or otherwise). Calvin was threatened many times, banished once for three years, and insulted by having stray dogs named "Calvin" after him. However, his hard work for reform in Geneva paid off. In later years, the liberal attitude of Geneva allowed the city to become known as the "Protestant Rome". It became a safe haven for persecuted Reformed scholars from Scotland and England during the Catholic rules of "Bloody" [[Mary I]] and Mary Stuart.
However, his hard work for reform in Geneva paid off. In later years, the liberal attitude of Geneva allowed the city to become known as the "Protestant Rome". It became a safe haven for persecuted Reformed (also known as Prestyberian) scholars from Scotland and England during the Catholic rules of "Bloody" [[Mary I]] and Mary Stuart.
Calvin's ideas later became distorted into the ''Calvinist'' belief in predestination: the concept that since God knows everything, it is already a fixed and immutable fact whether a person would go to heaven or hell, and hence since the end result is already decided, it didn't matter what people do. This philosophy has influenced Puritanism, although it has been renounced by most Christian sects. Calvin also created some tension between himself and other Christians when, regarding the execution of [[Michael Servetus]] for the preaching of Nontrinitarianism and anti-paedobaptism, he suggested that Servetus should be executed by beheading, rather than by being burned at the stake. Calvin's suggestion was rejected.
Calvin is often remembered in conjuction with the trial and execution of Michael Servetus, who was condemned by both many Reformers and the Roman Catholic church for committing heresy by denying the Trinity. Servetus was burned at the stake, despite Calvin's recomendation that Servetus ought rather to be beheaded, a form of execution considered in that day to be more honorable.
Calvin's theology influenced many different Reformational groups, particularly the Presbyterians in Scotland, the Congregationalists and Baptists England and the Dutch Reformed Church in Netherlands. The Westminster Confession, the London Baptist Confession and the Belgic Confession are three statements of belief created by these groups and affirm a Calvinistic interpretation of theology.
Calvin's theology, known as "Calvinism," later became twisted by into the ''Hyper-Calvinism" by some. Hyper-Calvinists over-emphasize predestination, the doctrine that God chooses who will put their faith in Him, to the point where they abandoned preaching the Gospel. This position has been renounced by most Christian groups, including all major Reformed denominations and groups, who affirm the preaching of the Gospel to the unregenerate as one of the commands given to the Church by Christ himself.