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John Calvin: Catholic Appraisal (Index Page)

Last updated on: February 24, 2025 at 2:12 pm by Dave Armstrong

Calvin (550x825)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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I. CALVIN’S VIEW OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HEADED BY THE POPE (AND OF LUTHERANISM) / ECCLESIOLOGY

II. SECTARIANISM, CALVINISTS OF HIS DAY, TRADITION, RULE OF FAITH, AND SOLA SCRIPTURA

III. PREDESTINATION / SUPRALAPSARIANISM / SOVEREIGNTY / ELECT / PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS / TOTAL DEPRAVITY

IV. SOTERIOLOGY / SALVATION / GRACE / FAITH AND WORKS / SIN

V. SACRAMENTS (ESP. BAPTISM AND THE EUCHARIST) AND SACRAMENTALS

VI. MARIOLOGY

VII. CHRISTOLOGY

VIII. DEUTEROCANON

IX. SCIENCE

X. INTOLERANCE, PERSECUTION, AND DOUBLE STANDARDS

XI. CALVIN VS. THE CHURCH FATHERS

XII. CELIBACY

XIII. CONTRACEPTION

XIV. ICONOCLASM, ART, AND MUSIC

XV. COMMUNION OF THE SAINTS / INTERCESSION OF SAINTS / PENANCE / ABSTINENCE / LENT

XVI. PURGATORY AND PRAYER FOR THE DEAD

XVII. ORDINATION / PRIESTS / MONKS AND NUNS / MONASTICISM

XVIII. MIRACLES / EXORCISM

XIX. FALSE ACCUSATIONS

XX. MISCELLANEOUS

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I. CALVIN’S VIEW OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HEADED BY THE POPE (AND OF LUTHERANISM) / ECCLESIOLOGY

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John Calvin: Authoritative Council Needed to Unite Protestants [1-18-08]
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Sinners in the Church & God’s Mercy (vs. Calvin #8) [5-15-09]
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Indefectibility of the One True Church (vs. Calvin #9) [5-16-09]
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Indefectibility & Apostolic Succession (vs. Calvin #10) [5-18-09]
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Sacrifice of the Mass / Cyprian’s Ecclesiology (vs. Calvin #11) [5-19-09]

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Bishops, Church Offices, & Paul’s Call (vs. Calvin #12) [5-20-09]
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Biblical & Patristic Basis for the Papacy (vs. Calvin #13) [5-21-09]
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Petrine & Roman Primacy & Papal Succession (vs. Calvin #14) [6-13-09]
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Peter & the Papacy & the Early Church (vs. Calvin #15) [6-14-09]
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Popes & Early Ecumenical Councils (vs. Calvin #16) [6-15-09]
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Fathers (Esp. Jerome, Gregory) & the Papacy (vs. Calvin #17) [6-15-09]
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Roman Primacy / Popes & Collegiality (vs. Calvin #18) [6-15-09]
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Constantine / Universal Papal Jurisdiction (vs. Calvin #19) [6-25-09]
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Gregory the Great & Papal Supremacy (vs. Calvin #20) [6-25-09]
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St. Bernard & the Papacy / Pope as “Head” (vs. Calvin #21) [6-27-09]
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Some Bad Popes = Ditch the Papacy? (vs. Calvin #22) [6-29-09]
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Popes Claimed to be God? / Pope as Antichrist (vs. Calvin #23) [6-30-09]
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Bad Popes / Indefectibility / John XXII (vs. Calvin #24) [6-30-09]
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Catholic Authority and Conscience (vs. Calvin #28) [7-16-09]
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Authority and Infallibility of Councils (vs. Calvin #26) [8-25-09]
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What Year Did Popes Become Antichrist? (vs. John Calvin) [3-11-10]

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50 “Catholic” John Calvin Views [3-18-10]

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On the Definition of “Christian” and Whether Luther and Calvin Regarded Catholicism as Christian (vs. Anti-Catholic Calvinist Austin Reed) [6-4-13]

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Top 15 “Catholic” Beliefs of John Calvin [8-22-15]

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Defending John Calvin’s “Top 15 ‘Catholic’ Beliefs” [9-2-15]

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“Reply to Calvin” #2: Infallible Church Authority [3-3-17]

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John Calvin’s 15 Surprisingly Catholic Views [National Catholic Register, 10-10-17]
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Christian Sinners & “Puritanical” Fanaticism (Reply to Calvin #5) [12-17-18]
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John Calvin Calls the Lutheran Eucharist “Idolatry” [Facebook, 9-6-22]

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John Calvin’s Ten Striking “Catholic” Views (the video immediately below is a commentary on this article) [2-11-25]

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VIDEO: Calvin’s Strikingly Catholic Views: Ten Catholic Truths John Calvin Embraced!!! [with Kenny Burchard, Catholic Bible Highlights, 1 hr, 28 minutes, 2-13-25]
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II. SECTARIANISM, CALVINISTS OF HIS DAY, TRADITION, RULE OF FAITH, AND SOLA SCRIPTURA

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Sacramentarian Controversies (Calvin vs. Luther vs. Zwingli) [3-29-04]

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Difficulties of Authority: Luther, Calvin, & Protestantism [4-11-04]
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“Absurd” Protestant Divisions: Calvin’s Revealing Lament to Melanchthon [2-6-06]

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John Calvin: Authoritative Council Needed to Unite Protestants [1-18-08]

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Unbridled Sectarianism, Sola Scriptura, Luther, & Calvin [6-24-09]

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Tradition, Succession, Apostolic Deposit (vs. Calvin #25) [7-1-09]
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Tradition, Church, & the Rule of Faith (vs. Calvin #27) [7-6-09]
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Catholic Authority and Conscience (vs. Calvin #28) [7-16-09]
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Quiz on Early Protestant / “Reformation” Eucharistic Harmony [8-23-09]

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Early Protestant Eucharistic “Unity”: Calvin vs. Westphal vs. Luther [11-6-11]

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Church Authority & the Canon (vs. Calvin #59) [2012]

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“Reply to Calvin” #4: “Primary” & “Secondary” Doctrines [4-3-17]

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Sectarianism & Denominationalism: Reply to Calvin #6 [12-19-18]
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John Calvin Admits in 1543 That His Genevan Calvinists Are Terrible Christians, Who Deserve God’s Judgment [Facebook, 9-6-22]

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Calvin & Cranmer: Councils Necessary For Doctrinal Unity [5-8-24]
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III. PREDESTINATION / SUPRALAPSARIANISM / SOVEREIGNTY / ELECT / PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS / TOTAL DEPRAVITY

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Was Calvin a Supralapsarian? (Dialogue w Calvinist) [1996]

John Calvin: Supralapsarian [1996 / revised & expanded: 10-21-01; rev. 6-27-06]

John Calvin: Only God Knows Who is Numbered Among the Elect [1-5-06]

Baptism, Regeneration, Assurance? of Salvation (vs. Calvin #39) [11-16-09]

Original Sin, Imputation, & Baptism (vs. Calvin #40) [11-17-09]

Total Depravity & the Evil of the Non-Elect (vs. John Calvin) [10-12-12]

Is God the Author of Evil? (vs. John Calvin) [Oct. 2012]

St. Augustine, Calvin, and Calvinists Regarding Total Depravity [1-7-14]

John Calvin: All Fathers But One Wrong Regarding Free Will [8-22-15]

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“Reply to Calvin” #1: The Elect [3-3-17]

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“Reply to Calvin” #3: Synergism, Grace Alone, & the Elect [4-3-17]

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Good Works and Men, God’s Grace, and Regeneration [National Catholic Register, 8-6-20]

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Predestination to Hell? (vs. Calvin #61) [1-20-21]

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Is True Faith Always Permanent? (vs. Calvin #62) [3-7-23]
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IV. SOTERIOLOGY / SALVATION / GRACE / FAITH AND WORKS / SIN

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John Calvin Misunderstood Trent’s Doctrine of Grace [2-28-03]

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Paul vs. Calvin: “Doers of the Law” Will be Justified [2004]

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John Calvin: Good Works Manifest True Saving Faith [9-4-08]

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Merit & Human Cooperation with God (vs. Calvin #35) [10-19-09]
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Original Sin, Imputation, & Baptism (vs. Calvin #40) [11-17-09]
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Mortal and Venial Sin (vs. Calvin #56) [2012]

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Indulgences & Distribution of Grace (vs. Calvin #58) [2012]

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Catholic & Calvinist Agreement on Justification & Works [2012]

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Can Only Regenerate Men Perform Truly Good Works? (vs. John Calvin) [Oct. 2012]

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“Reply to Calvin” #3: Synergism, Grace Alone, & the Elect [4-3-17]

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Absolution, Sanctification, & Forgiveness: Reply to Calvin #7 [12-19-18]
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Sanctification: Part & Parcel of Salvation? (vs. Calvin #64) [3-9-23]
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Reply to Calvin’s Antidote to Trent on Justification (Highlighting “Working Together with God” and Our Grounds for “Boasting” and “Pride” in the Meritorious Work We and Other Christians Do for the Sake of God and Evangelism) [+ Part II] [10-14-24]

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John Calvin: God Hates Sinners / God: I Love All People and Desire That None Perish [Facebook, 11-19-24]
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Bible vs. “Faith Alone” vs. John Calvin Series

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Bible vs. “Faith Alone” vs. John Calvin #1 (Psalm 7:10; Isaiah 1:27; 26:2; 32:17; 33:15-16; 48:18-19; 56:1) [10-22-24]

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Bible vs. “Faith Alone” vs. John Calvin #2 (Matthew 7:16-21; 10:22; 16:27) [10-23-24]

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Bible vs. “Faith Alone” vs. John Calvin #3 (Matthew 19:16-21: Rich Young Ruler) [10-24-24]

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Bible vs. “Faith Alone” vs. John Calvin #4 (Matthew 19:29; 25:34-46; Mark 16:16; Luke 6:35; Acts 10:34-35) [11-19-24]
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Bible vs. “Faith Alone” vs. John Calvin #5 (Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-10, 13; 6:22; 8:13, 17; 10:16; Hebrews 11:8-9) [12-4-24]

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V. SACRAMENTS (ESP. BAPTISM AND THE EUCHARIST) AND SACRAMENTALS

Baptism & the Analogy of Circumcision (John Calvin) [1998]

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Baptismal Regeneration vs. John Calvin’s “Sign and Seal” [2004]

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Sacramentarian Controversies (Calvin vs. Luther vs. Zwingli) [3-29-04]

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John Calvin and St. Cyril of Jerusalem: Comparative Eucharistic Theology [6-14-04]

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Dialogue on Calvin’s & Patristic Eucharistic Theology (Especially St. Cyril of Jerusalem’s Theology of the Eucharist) [6-19-04]
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John Calvin’s Erroneous Mystical View of the Eucharist [4-9-04, rev. 9-7-05 & 11-30-17]

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Sacrifice of the Mass / Cyprian’s Ecclesiology (vs. Calvin #11) [5-19-09]
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Quiz on Early Protestant / “Reformation” Eucharistic Harmony [8-23-09]

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Unbiblical Antipathy to Holy Water (vs. Calvin #29) [8-25-09]
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Sacraments: Bible & Church Fathers (vs. Calvin #34) [9-25-19]

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Sacraments & the Church Fathers (vs. Calvin #36) [10-19-09]
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Sacramentalism & Ex Opere Operato (vs. Calvin #37) [10-21-09]

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Radically Anti-Traditional Sacramentalism (vs. Calvin #38) [10-27-09]
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Baptism, Regeneration, Assurance? of Salvation (vs. Calvin #39) [11-16-09]

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Original Sin, Imputation, & Baptism (vs. Calvin #40) [11-17-09]
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Eucharist: Physical, Symbolic, or “Mystical”? (vs. Calvin #41) [11-24-09]

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Transubstantiation: Bible & the Fathers (vs. Calvin #42) [24-25 November 2009]
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Eucharist: Ubiquity, Signs, Lutheranism, Etc. (vs. Calvin #43) [11-27-09]
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Eucharist: Rationalism, Nestorianism, & Docetism (vs. Calvin #44) [11-30-09]
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Bizarre “Eucharistic Christology” vs. Tertullian (vs. Calvin #45) [12-1-09]
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Eucharist: Incoherent “Spiritual Presence” (vs. Calvin #46) [12-2-09]
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Eucharistic Adoration: Idolatry or Biblical? (vs. Calvin #47) [12-2-09]
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Eucharist: Radical Symbolism & Docetism (vs. Calvin #48) [12-3-09]
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Sacrifice of the Mass and NT Altars (vs. Calvin #49) [12-9-09]
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Confirmation in the Bible & the Fathers (vs. Calvin #50) [12-17-09]
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Sacrament of Penance: Man-Made Tradition? (vs. Calvin #51) [12-21-09]
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Sacrament of Anointing: Yay or Nay? (vs. Calvin #52) [12-21-09]
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Tonsure, Holy Oil, and “Judaizing”? (vs. Calvin #54) [12-22-09]
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Sacrament of Matrimony: Bible & Fathers (vs. Calvin #55) [12-23-09]
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Early Protestant Eucharistic “Unity”: Calvin vs. Westphal vs. Luther [11-6-11]

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What Were the Baptized “Added” to? (Acts 2:41; vs. James White) (“Dr.” [???] White Rejects Catholic & Infant Baptism, Even Though the Church Fathers, Luther, & Calvin Do Not) [9-10-21]

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John Calvin Sanctions Something Not Unlike Catholic Confession to Priests and Absolution [Facebook, 3-7-23]
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Caricatures of Catholic Confession (vs. Calvin #63): Calvin Claims That the Catholic Church Requires Formal Confession of Every Venial Sin (!) [3-9-23]
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Salvation Through the Eucharist According to John Calvin [Facebook, 2-24-25]

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VI. MARIOLOGY

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Perpetual Virginity of Mary: Held by All Protestant Reformers [1-27-02]

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Mary Mother of God: Protestant Founders Agree [10-10-08]

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John Calvin Believed in the Perpetual Virginity of Mary [6-17-10]

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John Calvin’s Objection to the Term, “Mother of God” [5-9-13]

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Calvin Held to Mary’s Perpetual Virginity (with Tim Staples) [6-5-14]

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Calvin & Mary Ever Virgin (expanded version, with Tim Staples vs. James Swan) [6-5-14]

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John Calvin: Sermon 22 on Matthew 1:22-25 (Mary’s Perpetual Virginity) [10-14-14]

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Calvin & Mary’s Perpetual Virginity (vs. Francisco Tourinho) [6-3-22]

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Calvin Believed in the Perpetual Virginity of Mary — So Should Calvinists [National Catholic Register, 6-22-22]

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VII. CHRISTOLOGY

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Eucharist: Rationalism, Nestorianism, & Docetism (vs. Calvin #44) [11-30-09]
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Bizarre “Eucharistic Christology” vs. Tertullian (vs. Calvin #45) [12-1-09]
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VIII. DEUTEROCANON

Calvin’s Citations of the “Apocrypha” [12-1-08]

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John Calvin Casually Assumed the Canonicity of Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) [Facebook, 10-15-24]

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IX. SCIENCE

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Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Philip Melanchthon Wax Astronomical and Geocentric, Oppose Copernicus [2-5-09]

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John Calvin Denies the Sphericity of the Earth and Severely Mocks Plato for Believing that the Earth is a Globe [9-24-12]

X. INTOLERANCE, PERSECUTION, AND DOUBLE STANDARDS

Astonishing Hostility to Higher Education in Early Protestantism [1991]

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Sacramentarian Controversies (Calvin vs. Luther vs. Zwingli) [3-29-04]

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John Calvin, Early Calvinism, & Violent Iconoclasm [7-4-04]
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“Reformation” Theft of Thousands of Catholic Churches [4-12-08]

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Calvin’s Fawning Over a 13-Year-Old Head of the Church of England [5-26-09; revised for a National Catholic Register article, 9-3-17]

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John Calvin: Capital Punishment for “Heretics” (Anabaptists, Etc.) [6-1-09]

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John Calvin Rebukes Lutheran “Beasts” and “Evil”, Calls Luther an Idolater [Facebook, 3-23-10]

John Calvin: Torment of an Inept Execution “Special Will of God” [3-23-10]

John Calvin Mocked Servetus’ Reaction to His Death Sentence [3-25-10]

John Calvin Supports Death for Heresy in 1557: Four Years After Servetus’ Execution [11-6-11]

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Calvin the “Destroyer” of Servetus: James Swan Misses Forest for Trees [8-24-17]

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XI. CALVIN VS. THE CHURCH FATHERS

Early Protestants & St. Augustine: Ambiguity [1-28-04]

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John Calvin and St. Cyril of Jerusalem: Comparative Eucharistic Theology [6-14-04]

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Dialogue on Calvin’s & Patristic Eucharistic Theology (Especially St. Cyril of Jerusalem’s Theology of the Eucharist) [6-19-04]

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Biblical & Patristic Basis for the Papacy (vs. Calvin #13) [5-21-09]
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John Calvin: Ignatian Epistles (c. 110) Not Authentic [6-7-09]

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Peter & the Papacy & the Early Church (vs. Calvin #15) [6-14-09]
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Popes & Early Ecumenical Councils (vs. Calvin #16) [6-15-09]
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Fathers (Esp. Jerome, Gregory) & the Papacy (vs. Calvin #17) [6-15-09]
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Gregory the Great & Papal Supremacy (vs. Calvin #20) [6-25-09]
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Sacraments: Bible & Church Fathers (vs. Calvin #34) [9-25-19]

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Sacraments & the Church Fathers (vs. Calvin #36) [10-19-09]
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Original Sin, Imputation, & Baptism (vs. Calvin #40) [11-17-09]

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Transubstantiation: Bible & the Fathers (vs. Calvin #42) [24-25 November 2009]
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Eucharist: Rationalism, Nestorianism, & Docetism (vs. Calvin #44) [11-30-09]
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Bizarre “Eucharistic Christology” vs. Tertullian (vs. Calvin #45) [12-1-09]
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St. Augustine, Calvin, and Calvinists Regarding Total Depravity [1-7-14]

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John Calvin: All Fathers But One Wrong Regarding Free Will [8-22-15]

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XII. CELIBACY

Unbiblical Rejection of Priestly Celibacy (vs. Calvin #31) [9-15-09]

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Clerical Celibacy: Dialogue with John Calvin [9-17-09]

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XIII. CONTRACEPTION

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Luther and Calvin Opposed Contraception and “Fewer Children is Better” Thinking [2-21-04; published at National Catholic Register, 9-13-17]

Publishers Omit Calvin’s Anti-Contraception View?! [9-14-13]

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XIV. ICONOCLASM, ART, AND MUSIC

Early Protestant Antipathy Towards Art (+ Iconoclasm) [1991]

John Calvin, Early Calvinism, & Violent Iconoclasm [7-4-04]

Calvin, Zwingli, & Bullinger vs. Statues of Christ, Crucifixes, & Crosses [9-19-09]

John Calvin: Worship Instruments = Idols & Superstition [3-14-10]

Musical Instruments in Worship: Biblical Evidence [3-22-10]

“Graven Images”: Unbiblical Iconoclasm (vs. John Calvin) [Oct. 2012]

Church Music & Hymns in the New Testament? [1-28-16]

John Calvin Didn’t Oppose All Religious Images [4-10-23]

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XV. COMMUNION OF THE SAINTS / INTERCESSION OF SAINTS / PENANCE / ABSTINENCE / LENT

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Lent: Unbiblical & Irrational Antipathy (vs. Calvin #30) [9-15-09]

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Biblical Evidence for Veneration of Saints and Angels (John Calvin’s Antipathy to Veneration of Saints and Angels) [10-1-12]

Veneration of Saints and Angels (vs. John Calvin) [Oct. 2012]

Intercession & Invocation of Saints & Angels (vs. Calvin) [Oct. 2012]

Temporal Punishment After Forgiveness: Catholicism vs. John Calvin [10-18-12]

John Calvin Did Not Pray to Philip Melanchthon [9-19-09; revised, with retraction, on 5-3-16]

Absolution, Sanctification, & Forgiveness: Reply to Calvin #7 [12-19-18]

John Calvin vs. the Bible and John the Baptist, with Regard to Abstinence from Wine [Facebook, 1-26-19]

John Calvin in Effect Regards Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer to Abraham as “Novel and Impure” [Facebook, 3-8-23]

XVI. PURGATORY AND PRAYER FOR THE DEAD

Prayer for the Dead (vs. Calvin #57) [2012]

Purgatory in the Bible (vs. Calvin #60) [1-15-21]

XVII. ORDINATION / PRIESTS / MONKS AND NUNS / MONASTICISM

Unbiblical Opposition to Priest’s Vows (vs. Calvin #32) [9-21-09]

Evangelical Counsels & Monasticism (vs. Calvin #33) [9-22-09]

Calvin’s Self-Contradictory Trashing of Monasticism [1-26-19]

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XVIII. MIRACLES / EXORCISM

Unbiblical Antipathy to Miracles & Exorcism (vs. Calvin #53) [12-22-09]

XIX. FALSE ACCUSATIONS

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John Calvin and the Anti-Protestant Sodomy Rumor [4-23-07]

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James Swan Attacks My 1991 Paper (Calvin & Bucer) [5-6-20]

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XX. MISCELLANEOUS

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64 Critiques of John Calvin: Introduction & Master List [3-9-23]

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