John Calvin

After a quick search around the board, it would seem that a sadly neglected figure of the Reformation is Jean Calvin. He normally gets mentioned by-the-by, but Luther hogs the limelight. Of course, Knox, Wycliffe, Melancthon and Zwingli are likewise neglected, being easily passed over for their more famous German Augustinian fellow-reformer, but I'd be interested to hear how the church of the reformation (Catholic and Lutheran) might've developed without that French lawyer? What if he'd stayed Catholic?

Calvin himself admits that he was a late comer to the reformed ideas. Unlike Martin who's father originally intended him to study law but became a monk, Calvin's life was the other way around - until 1525 his father intended him to enter the priesthood. He received benefices from the bishopric of Noyon.

Thus, another question arises: would/could he have climbed the rungs of the hierarchy in the Catholic church with his reforming ideas? Or would he simply have remained a minor soon-to-be-forgotten cleric in Picardie? I'm interested to hear the thoughts of others along these lines.
 
Sadly neglected?

When all the 'Reformed' and Presbyterian churches are Calvinist in origin? When the religious fights of the 30 years war were almost 3 cornered Lutheran, Calvinist and Catholic?


Could he have stayed RC? I doubt it highly. Luther's intent (originally) was to reform the RC church, and some forms of Lutheranism (e.g. Swedish) are 'paperback Catholic' (as a Lutheran friend of mine once said). Getting Luther to stay in Rome's embrace would be ... difficult, but not ASB.

OTOH, Calvin is thoroughly protestant, and there could be no compromise between his views and the Roman church. I don't see this at all.
 
I meant sadly neglected as far as alt-history is concerned. Luther still nails his Theses to the door of the church, but Calvin either remains Catholic or somehow fails to exert the same level of influence as OTL.:eek:
 

Geon

Donor
Sadly neglected?

When all the 'Reformed' and Presbyterian churches are Calvinist in origin? When the religious fights of the 30 years war were almost 3 cornered Lutheran, Calvinist and Catholic?


Could he have stayed RC? I doubt it highly. Luther's intent (originally) was to reform the RC church, and some forms of Lutheranism (e.g. Swedish) are 'paperback Catholic' (as a Lutheran friend of mine once said). Getting Luther to stay in Rome's embrace would be ... difficult, but not ASB.

OTOH, Calvin is thoroughly protestant, and there could be no compromise between his views and the Roman church. I don't see this at all.

Dathi

Historians are not certain when John Calvin began to truly formulate his ideas. They believe it was during his time in Paris at the Sorbonne. One possible POD is that Calvin during his time at the Sorbonne does not come in contact with key professors who had been influenced by Luther. In addition, Calvin was willing to work with the Roman Catholic Church even after his split with the church. There is correspondence that suggests at one point early in the Council of Trent that Calvin was optimistic that some compromise could be reached. However, hardliners and both sides of the issue derailed any hopes here to the point that Calvin later became very hostile to the very idea of "church councils."

In addition, Calvin was not always popular among his own. He was twice exiled from Geneva, which was his base of operations for many years, because many thought him still too Catholic in many of his beliefs (examples: Calvin wanted to celebrate communion at every service, and he had no problem celebrating "traditional" Christian holy days. Attitudes like this branded Calvin as "too Catholic" for some individuals.)

Based on the above here are some possible points of departure for Calvin.


  1. Calvin like Luther decides to defy his father and become a priest instead of a lawyer.
  2. Calvin's more "reform" minded professors are forced to step down because of their positions by the very-Catholic minded university before Calvin can work with them.
  3. Geneva's representatives at Trent are not hardliners and also several hardline Catholic voices are silent. More moderate views prevail.
  4. Calvin becomes disenchanted with the constant problems he has to deal with in Geneva and decides to return to the Roman Catholic Church.
Hope this is food for thought.

Geon
 
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