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Milan Zafirovski - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Calvinist Predestination and the Spirit of Capitalism: The Religious Argument of the Weber Thesis Reexamined
Human Studies, 2018Co-Authors: Milan ZafirovskiAbstract:The paper reconsiders the Weber Thesis of a linkage between Calvinism and capitalism. It first restates this sociological Thesis in terms of the Calvinist doctrine of predestination as its theological core and premise in virtue of being treated as the crucial religious factor of the spirit of modern capitalism. Consequently, it proposes that the Weber Thesis’ validity and consistency depends on that doctrine, succeeding or failing as a sociological theory with the latter depending on whether or not it is unique in theological terms, as well as economic-social consequences. For that purpose, it reexamines and compares the Calvinist doctrine of predestination with the pre-Calvinist versions and infers that it is basically identical to or compatible with these. It then draws the implications for the Weber Thesis in respect of the degree of its validity or consistence. It concludes that the Weber Thesis likely is fail as a sociological-economic theory with the Calvinist doctrine of predestination to the extent that the latter is its theological ground and revealed not to be unique and new theologically and probably in terms of its societal effects.
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society and heaven and hell the interplay between social structure and theological tradition during early Calvinism
Politics Religion & Ideology, 2017Co-Authors: Milan ZafirovskiAbstract:ABSTRACTThe paper reexamines the Calvinist reformulation of the doctrine of predestination and its social underpinnings. It applies a sociological approach by exploring whether and to what extent social, especially class, structure affected the Calvinist version of the doctrine of predestination. This application is based on the sociological premise that theologies, religions, and other beliefs originate within certain social settings, as well as influence the latter. The paper therefore represents an exercise in the sociology of theology and religion by analyzing the interplay between social structure and theological tradition in the form of the doctrine of predestination. It does so by investigating the interrelations between social forces and theological doctrine in the process of emergence and expansion of Calvinism as a predestinarian theology and religion as well as a radical political movement. It aims to contribute to a better understanding of the social conditions and effects of theology and reli...
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Any Proofs for the Calvinism-Capitalism Thesis? The Exemplars of the ‘Rule' Reexamined
Politics Religion & Ideology, 2015Co-Authors: Milan ZafirovskiAbstract:AbstractThe paper reconsiders the Weber Thesis of Calvinism and modern capitalism assumed in a causal association or affinity and congruence as the independent and dependent variable, respectively within his social economics. The analysis focuses on the Weber Thesis in its historical component by identifying and reexamining its supposed proofs in historically Calvinist societies. It thus reconsiders the presumed exemplars of the Calvinism-capitalism ‘rule’ in most of these societies. Specifically, it identifies and analyzes certain relevant historical deviations from the Weber Thesis in the assumed exemplars of its ‘rule’. The first major deviation is that pre-industrial capitalism as an economic its spirit and practice arises and exists prior to Calvinism in Calvinist and other Western societies. The second deviation is that modern industrial capitalism develops and expands long after the rise and extension and actually during the decline of Calvinism in these societies. Generally, the paper aims to cont...
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The protestant ethic and the spirit of democracy: what is the democratic effect of Calvinism?
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 2014Co-Authors: Milan ZafirovskiAbstract:Purpose – The paper considers whether and how Calvinism as a specific type of religion, ideology, and social system impacts political democracy in modern society. In contrast to the previous sociological and related literature assuming only a positive or negative linear effect, the paper proposes that Calvinism exerts mixed positive-negative and non-linear effects on democracy. The purpose of this paper is to aim at making a contribution to the sociological theory and research on Calvinism and democracy and modern society in general. Design/methodology/approach – A combination of comparative and historical sociological methodology. Findings – The main proposition and finding is that whether Calvinism is likely to have a positive or negative impact on democracy is the function of its specific position within social structure and its concrete phase of development. Thus, different positions of Calvinism in social structure are linked to its differential consequences in aggregate for democracy, and various st...
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(Pre-)Capitalism and the “Spirit” of Protestantism—The Max Weber Reverse Thesis of Economic Conditions of Calvinism
Social Epistemology, 2014Co-Authors: Milan ZafirovskiAbstract:The article analyzes the economic determinants of the rise and initial growth of Protestantism, specifically Calvinism, described as the Weber reverse problem in light of his thesis of Calvinist outcomes for economy. These determinants of Calvinism are differentiated from its assumed economic outcomes, specifically the emergence and development of modern capitalism in Weberian sociological accounts. It is argued and showed that the economic determinants of Calvinism’s emergence and early evolution are primarily pre-capitalist in character rather than capitalist in the modern sense. Therefore, the initial overarching economic determinant and setting of early Calvinism is considered to be pre-capitalism, as distinguished from modern industrial capitalism, specifically feudalism as the ancien regime of master–servant economy. Such a pre-capitalist determinant and context suggests that of Calvinism was itself economically determined or influenced before presumably determining or influencing modern capitalism ...
George Harinck - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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“Wipe Out Lines of Division (Not Distinctions)”: Bennie Keet, Neo-Calvinism and the Struggle against Apartheid
Journal of Reformed Theology, 2017Co-Authors: George HarinckAbstract:Race was not a dominant factor in neo-Calvinism. Rather, stress was laid on the universal character of Christianity, especially in the case of Herman Bavinck. While some of the South African PhD students at the Vrije Universiteit’s defended apartheid with reference to neo-Calvinism, it was B.B. Keet—who would become a noted critic of apartheid—who adopted Bavinck’s views. As a professor in Stellenbosch, Keet initially accepted apartheid for cultural and practical reasons, but he became critical when South Africa officially implemented apartheid policy in 1948. This resulted in his book Whither, South Africa?, in which he rejected the theological arguments undergirding apartheid with arguments almost literally derived from Bavinck. It is clear from this case study that neo-Calvinism was employed not only to support apartheid, but also to criticize it as well. In the Netherlands his stand was recognized and shared by two more of Bavinck’s students: J.J. Buskes and J.H. Bavinck. Keet met with opposition within his own circles but stuck to his position and inspired his student, the apartheid critic C.F. Beyers Naude.
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Neo-Calvinism and the French Revolution
2014Co-Authors: James Eglinton, George HarinckAbstract:List of contributors Foreword (Paul Wells) Preface (James Eglinton and George Harinck) 1. Abraham Kuyper and the French Revolution (James Bratt) 2. Herman Bavinck and the French Revolution (George Harinck) 3. From Babel to Pentecost via Paris and Amsterdam: Multilingualism in Revolutionary and neo-Calvinist Thought (James Eglinton) 4. The Revolution and the Reformed: Learning from History (Mark Elliott) 5. The Theo-Politics of Fashion: Groen van Prinsterer and the "Terror" of French Revolutionary Dress (Robert Covolo) 6. Long Films about Love: Kuyper and Kieslowski's Three Colours Trilogy (Alissa Wilkinson) 7. Dutch Orthodox Protestant Parties and the Ghost of the French Revolution (Ewout Klei) 8. Kuyper's Anti-Revolutionary Doctrine of Scripture (Hans Burger) 9. 'Marie Antoinette' or mystical depth? Herman Bavinck on theology as queen of the sciences (Wolter Huttinga) 10. French Secularity and the Islamic Headscarf: A Theological Deconstruction (Matthew Kaemingk) 11. Another Revolution: Towards a new explanation of the rise of neo-Calvinism (Hugo den Boer) Bibliography
Van Wyk - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Calvinism, atheism and freedom of religion: A South African perspective
In die Skriflig In Luce Verbi, 2014Co-Authors: Van WykAbstract:In this article the author investigates the approaches of Calvinism and atheism regarding the freedom of religion. The different views on God, man and science according to these worldviews function as a background for the explanation of freedom of religion. Special attention is been paid to the South African Constitution of 1996 and the stipulations of this constitution regarding freedom of religion for churches and schools. The article ends with a few concluding remarks and suggestions for further investigation. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die benaderings van Calvinisme en ateisme ten opsigte van godsdiensvryheid. Die verskillende sienings oor God, mens en wetenskap funksioneer as agtergrond vir ’n uiteensetting van godsdiensvryheid. Besondere aandag word aan die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet van 1996 geskenk, asook die bepalings van hierdie grondwet vir kerke en skole. Die artikel sluit af met ’n paar slotopmerkings en voorstelle vir verdere ondersoek.
Christina Landman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Calvinism and South African women : a short historical overview
2009Co-Authors: Christina LandmanAbstract:For the past three-and-a-half centuries, Christian women in South Africa have chosen for pietistic expressions of their faith, even when their teachers or husbands were committed to dogmatic Calvinism. This article traces the history of female piety in South Africa from its Calvinist introduction by Maria Quevellerius, the wife of Jan van Riebeeck. It tells the history of women in South Africa, both black and white, who were exposed to the sin-soul-salvation model of belief imposed upon them by missionaries, and who read pietistic literature from countries abroad. Three types of female piety are evident in South Africa today: firstly in black women healers; secondly in women attending the Worthy Women conferences where they openly assume subordinate roles vis-a-vis their husbands; and thirdly in women who accept the decision by the 2009 Synod of the ultra-Calvinist Reformed Churches in South Africa not to allow women to become elders or pastors. This article examines the historically relevant question of the influence of Calvinism on these three forms of female piety, and seeks reasons for the apparent absence of Calvinist loyalties amongst South African women. While Calvinism regulates the fate of (especially white) women in South Africa as regards their formal recognition as elders and pastors, women themselves seem to feel comfortable within the worship patterns of pietism and revivalism which, in the final instance, are as sexist as was local Calvinism.
Renato Coletto - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The central principle of Calvinism? Some criteria, proposals and questions
In die Skriflig In Luce Verbi, 2015Co-Authors: Renato ColettoAbstract:Is there a ‘central principle’ of Calvinism? This article explores this question mainly from the viewpoint of reformational philosophy. It does so firstly by introducing criteria that should be used to identify, if possible, such a central ‘organon’ of Calvinism. Then a few proposals are evaluated, and their strong and weak points are discussed. The most credible candidate for the role of central principle is argued to be an ‘idea of law’ rooted in the biblical groundmotif and traditionally defined as ‘sphere-sovereignty’. More recent characterisations of this cosmonomic idea are considered. A few objections and alternative proposals are also discussed. The article is concluded with a few questions, calling for further research on the topic. Wat is die sentrale beginsel van Calvinisme? Enkele kriteria, voorstelle en vrae. Is daar ’n ‘sentrale beginsel’ by Calvinisme te bespeur? Hierdie artikel ondersoek genoemde vraag hoofsaaklik vanuit die perspektief van die reformatoriese filosofie. Dit word eerstens gedoen deur die kriteria bekend te stel wat gebruik moet word om, indien moontlik, sodanige ‘organologie’ van Calvinisme te identifiseer. ’n Paar voorstelle word dan geevalueer en hulle sterk en swak punte bespreek. Die geloofwaardigste kandidaat vir die rol van ’n sentrale beginsel is moontlik ’n ‘wetsidee’ wat in die bybelse grondmotief gewortel is en tradisioneel as ‘sfeersoewereiniteit’ gedefinieer word. Meer resente karakteriserings van hierdie kosmonomiese idee word ook oorweeg. ’n Aantal besware en alternatiewe voorstelle word daarna bespreek. Die artikel sluit af met enkele vrae waarmee ’n oproep tot verdere navorsing oor die onderwerp gedoen word.
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Traces of neo-Calvinism in France and Italy
Koers - Bulletin for Christian Scholarship, 2010Co-Authors: Renato ColettoAbstract:This article deals with the history of the neo-Calvinist movement in France and Italy. The efforts of the Dutch Reformational movement to communicate with French (mainly reformed) Christians are highlighted. A brief overview of the achievements of the few French scholars involved in this development is sketched and their publications are mentioned, together with a few conferences and organisations. Neo-Calvinism reached Italy as well, via the input of French lecturers and publications. The few developments of neo-Calvinism in Italy are recorded as well. Also, the gradual drift towards vantilian and reconstructionist positions (in both countries) is detected and discussed. An evaluation of these developments is provided, together with a few final considerations and questions which should help learning lessons from the past and preparing better strategies for the future.
