My definition of a Calminian:
- Someone who is confused or can’t make up their mind
- Someone who doesn’t understand the interplay between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility along with the mystery inherent in them existing side by side*
- Someone who would leave classic Calvinists perplexed at their (the Calminian’s) understanding of Calvinism and classic Arminians perplexed at their understanding of Arminianism (sorry I felt a need to use the term classic)
- Agreeing to disagree with yourself
Related posts:
*Being in-between doesn’t resolve a contradiction because there isn’t one, there’s only a paradox (an apparent contradiction). It also doesn’t solve the mystery if that’s the purpose or the desired result.
Nicely put, Jeff.
Jeff, I especially like:”Someone who is confused or can’t make up their mind.”
Brilliant. Concise, yet well argued.
Thanks.
Thanks for visiting Phil.
Jeff
Stabbed…through the heart…hurts…bad…
I do not think that I believe in middle knowledge. Personally, I have been too busy studying other things to really tackle the issue. I can no longer say that I am fully Arminian, but we will see how close I flirt with Calvinism.
Sorry about that. I was going to warn you but just hoped you wouldn’t see this post.
Jeff
But, Jeff, I read your blog religious, so I was predestined to read it! As I said, I am still exploring – wouldn’t exactly call myself Calminian though…not now anyway.
Of course. I didn’t peg you as a Calminian. If you aren’t quite either that doesn’t make you both.
Jeff
To be honest, Calvinism, answers some questions. I’ve thought about doing a post on it, but….
I know those types of things are hard to put down in writing but I bet many would be interested to read it.
Jeff
So, i was wondering whether there is absolutely no place for any other perspective on divine sovereignty/free will, except the calvinist and arminian ones?
Why would a calminian be insecure? Weren’t calvin and arminius new, modern in their time? What if…
Chip. There are other things than Calvinist or Arminian. Trying to mix those two is rather confusing though.
Calvinism wasn’t new at all. Augustine believed pretty much the same things. I’m referring to people who are too lazy to know what they believe or too non-committal to make any decision about what they believe. It may take a while to come to it.
Jeff
Granted. Take me, for example. I have a BA in church history, a MTh in church history, and in a year, hopefully, a PhD in church history. I have been unsatisfied with both calvinism and arminianism. I needed not necessarily a middle way, but something to explain the issues from a different standpoint. Middle knowledge does not answer all my dissatisfaction, but it is a starting point.
However, the reverse is also plausible: people who adhere to calvinism or arminianism can very well be lazy, taking the thoughts of others just because they don’t want to digest theology for themselves.
To the point: “Someone who doesn’t understand the interplay between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility along with the mystery inherent in them existing side by side*”, isn’t a mystery understood no longer a mystery?
I could have worded that better. “Realize that there is an interplay” ? You’re even more anal retentive than I am. I did say mystery a second time.
Jeff
LOL. I’ve never been accused of being anal retentive before. Ever. Really. ;-D
Maybe it’s a little inappropriate or not good for mixed company. First time for everything.
Jeff
I was joking, it was hardly the first time. At any rate, I actually agree with you that the two positions appear to be mutually exclusive, and the hybrid name “Calminian” notwithstanding, I can see how your take is that it can’t really exist unless one is conflicted or confused. That is unless one claims to be an “Origenian”. ;-D
I missed the wink. Origenian. Now that’s a first for me. Is that what Rob Bell is?
Jeff
I imagine so. “God is sovereign, God desires all all men be saved, God is capable and willing and in the end will sway even the hardest of hearts.” I’m paraphrasing, but essentially I think it’s what Bell is saying.