In our troubled times often confronted with people who preach this or that direction in Christianity, believing it the only correct and true.In conversation, they often appeals to the Bible, but we know that the Scriptures can be interpreted in different ways.It's no secret that if you want you can justify almost any direction in Christianity.
Protestantism, particularly Calvinism today are widely spread throughout the world.Let's see, what is this doctrine, and how it differs from others.
Background
Protestantism itself originated in Europe in the first half of the XVI century as a powerful movement for the purification of the church.Indeed, the sale of indulgences, extortion and racketeering, as well as indecent behavior Catholic priests could not but cause indignation of ordinary people.As a result, in Germany, and eventually emerged strengthened Lutheranism in Albion - Anglicanism, and in Switzerland, the Frenchman Calvin founded his reformist trend in Christianity - Calvinism.Subsequently, it has found many adherents in the Netherlands, Scotland, USA, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Hungary, New Zealand and South Korea.The main branches of the Protestant denominations is considered reformism, Congregationalism and Presbyterianism.
The characteristics of Calvinism
In 1536, Jean Calvin, published a work entitled "Institutes of the Christian faith," which described what actually is this trend in Christianity.In this book he outlined not only the basic principles of this movement, but its approach to understanding the Christian vocation of man, his destiny and goals in life.According to Calvin, every man has his destiny from God.Everyone should realize its destiny, which can not be changed.Its definition comes through the gift of Faith.Happiness of some people is predetermined before birth, while others are forced to eke out a life full of sorrow and suffering.And all this will continue after death.Thus, it turns out that God determines in advance the final sentence for a man who can not change any sacrifices of loved ones, or all sorts of good works.To recognize the will of the Creator can be on the following grounds: if a person truly believes in his Creator, he understands the nature of his mission in life, works hard and gets material wealth - meant he was elected to the heavenly life.Otherwise, if it is wrong to dispose of the fate and lost health and well being - it theirs eternal torment.Those who profess Christianity in this area believe that the person responsible before the Creator in a few categories: health, time and property.Their Calvin considered the great gifts of God.Therefore, man's responsibility to his Creator for every minute of his life.In the first place Calvinism puts his life work - both for the public good and for the good of his family.It is easy to notice that this Protestant Christianity has made to serve God more mundane, such that concerns only the material world.The work appears in the role of a kind of prayer to the Creator, and the work - is to fulfill the sacred commandment of love of neighbor.The essence of the doctrine can be summed up in one thesis: God helps those who care about themselves.Is that true or not - let everyone decide.
