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'''Calvinism''' (also known as Reformed Theology) is a system in Christian theology that was first developed by 16th century Protestant theologian [[John Calvin]].
It is most often summed up by five points, often referred to by the acronym TULIP:
*'''T'''otal Depravity - every person is born with a sinful nature since the fall of man in the [[Garden of Eden]].
*'''U'''nconditional Election - [[God]] chose every person whom He would save. This is also referred to as [[Predestination]].
*'''L'''imited Atonement - [[Jesus]] only died for those whom God chose for salvation.
*'''I'''rresistible Grace - Man has no free will over His eternal fate, and anybody whom God chooses for salvation cannot resist His call.
*'''P'''erserverance of the Saints - Once one is saved, they cannot lose their salvation and will perservere throughout their lives.
Some persons do not hold to all five points, and refer to themselves by the number of "points" to which they adhere. For example, a number of people agree with all five points except for Limited Atonement, and thus refer to themselves as "Four Point Calvinists".
The opposite of Calvinism is considered to be [[Arminianism]].