scholarly journals The economic ethics of Calvinism. The reconciliation of piety and wealth

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 77-89
Author(s):  
Lucyna Chmielewska
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Max Weber ◽  
John Calvin ◽  
Religious Ethics ◽  
Good Works ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Nature And Grace ◽  
The World ◽  
Secular Power ◽  
The Church

The doctrine of predestination in the Lutheran and Calvinist theology, along with the assumption of a radical separation of nature and grace as well as the material and spiritual realm, had a significant impact on social life. The salvation of the soul, the soteriological dimension of human destiny, remained dependent on the grace of God (predestination), undeserved and unfathomable. The earthly reality, the institution of the Church and good works could in no way contribute to the salvation of the soul. Martin Luther, especially at the initial stage of his reformation activities, focused on private spirituality, considering the earthly dimension of reality to be the domain of the secular power. John Calvin and his successors justified in their teachings a different attitude manifested in the interest in the earthly world based on religious ethics. The doctrine of predestination, therefore, did not result in, as one would expect, quietism but in activism. The Calvinists believed that predestination was not manifested in single good deeds but in a certain methodology of systematised life based on religious ethics. Religiousness was supposed to be expressed through activity in the world and was meant to show the glory of its Creator. Work, thrift and honesty were supposed to lead to the rebirth, i.e. “sanctification” of the world, and were the essence of what Max Weber called the spirit of capitalism. Calvinism led to changes in the approach to such economic issues as money lending at interest, work or enrichment.

scholarly journals A ‘Chief Error’ of Protestant Soteriology: Sin in the Justified and Early Modern Catholic Theology

Perichoresis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 41-72
Author(s):  
Matthew T. Gaetano
Keyword(s):  
Seventeenth Century ◽  
Early Modern ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Martin Luther ◽  
Original Sin ◽  
John Calvin ◽  
Catholic Theology ◽  
Good Works ◽  
The World ◽  
The Catholic Church

AbstractCatholic theologians after Trent saw the Protestant teaching about the remnants of original sin in the justified as one of the ‘chief ’ errors of Protestant soteriology. Martin Luther, John Calvin, Martin Chemnitz, and many Protestant theologians believed that a view of concupiscence as sinful, strictly speaking, did away with any reliance on good works. This conviction also clarified the Christian’s dependence on the imputed righteousness of Christ. Catholic theologians condemned this position as detracting from the work of Christ who takes away the sins of the world. The rejection of this teaching—and the affirmation of Trent’s statement that original sin is taken away and that the justified at baptism is without stain or ‘immaculate’ before God—is essential for understanding Catholic opposition to Protestant soteriology. Two Spanish Dominican Thomists, Domingo de Soto and Bartolomé de Medina, rejected the Protestant teaching on imputation in part because of its connection with the view on the remnants of original sin in the justified. Adrian and Peter van Walenburch, brothers who served as auxiliary bishops of Cologne in the second half of the seventeenth century, argued that the Protestants of their time now agreed with the Catholic Church on a number of soteriological points. They also drew upon some of their post–Tridentine predecessors to offer a Catholic account of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness. Nonetheless, the issue of sin in the justified remained a point of serious controversy.

scholarly journals Kerklike bediening aan die postmoderne stadsmens

2004 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
I.J. Olivier ◽  
H.J.M. Van Deventer
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Modern City ◽  
Church Ministry ◽  
World Today ◽  
The World ◽  
Theological Foundation ◽  
Practical Theological ◽  
The Church

Church ministry to post-modern city dwellers The world today is characterised by postmodernism and urbanisation. Both these processes have a serious impact on the world as we know it – on social life, and also on the ministry of the church. Working from a practical-theological foundation, the church is defined as a “called community of believers”. The issue, however, is how this community should effectively and practically live out their faith in an urbanised post-modern world. This issue is investigated and suggestions in this regard are made.

Domestic railways through the prism of the country's history

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 454-462
Author(s):  
A. B. Voulfov
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Historical Review ◽  
Russian Society ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Spheres Of Influence ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Current State ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
The World

The construction of railways in Russia, as well as throughout the world, contributed to the emergence of numerous new areas of social life, including stimulating the emergence of previously unknown new sectors of the economy. On the basis of a historical review, the mission of the railways in improving the Russian society is considered, the spheres of influence on public life, aesthetic education and enrichment of the appearance of the landscape, the development of the sphere of enlightenment and education, missionary work, and service are listed. Examples of solving the problem of long-distance year-round communication, regardless of the climate, main communication across the vastness of Russia, the creation of a special tradition of transportation, which determined the still living everyday style of life of Russian railways, are given.Having spawned a new tradition of messages, people have created a different system of relationships with the world. The railway has played a leading role in this and has a long and honorable history, it is a great chronicle of heroism, labor, scientific thought and culture.The study is devoted to the initial stage of development of railways and aspects of their impact on the life of Russians. The following will describe the historical events that predetermined the current state of domestic railways in the context of the everyday life of compatriots.

A Re-enchanted Response to a Communal Call: Toward a Christian Understanding of Medicine as Vocation

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler J Couch
Keyword(s):  
Max Weber ◽  
Religious Life ◽  
The Body ◽  
Practice Of Medicine ◽  
The World ◽  
Christian Understanding ◽  
The Church

Abstract Modern concepts of vocation often refer to some ambiguous understanding of personal occupation or religious life. These interpretations appear to be in tension with the Christian understanding of vocation as the call of God given to a community to a certain way of living. Christian physicians live into this communal vocation when they remain present to the suffering as a sign of God’s faithfulness. This vocational practice of medicine is threatened by a distorted understanding of the body that stems from what Max Weber called the “disenchantment” of the world. By bringing an understanding of the medicine that stems from Weber’s disenchantment into conversation with the language and beliefs of the church, this essay will seek to explore practices that might serve to re-enchant an understanding of the body and the practice of medicine as a form of Christian vocation.

scholarly journals Kerkreg? Die plek van Kerkreg en Kerkregering

2007 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry J. Van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Close Relation ◽  
John Calvin ◽  
Church Polity ◽  
The World ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Church ◽  
Church Government

Church polity? The position of church polity and church government It is generally accepted that John Calvin can be referred to as the founder of the presbyterial-synodal form of church government which is found in the Reformed Churches. It would therefore be appropriate to focus on his views and to indicate to what extent he influenced the notion that Jesus Christ is Head of the Church and Lord of the world. If it can once again be concluded that there is a close relation between Church, Confession and Church Ordinance, then it is quite evident that Church polity occupies a fundamental place in the Reformed Churches which must be treated with greater concern.

scholarly journals Christian social doctrine: dialogue with the modern world

2000 ◽  
pp. 13-22
Author(s):  
T. V. Yevdokymova
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Church Leadership ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Cultural Space ◽  
Social Doctrine ◽  
The People ◽  
The World ◽  
The Church

Constant changes in the economic, social and political life of the people of the nations force the Church to enter into a dialogue with the world. The object of her attention is culture, politics, science, dealing with human problems. Church leadership of various Christian denominations sees the possibility of applying their socio-political guides in a wide socio-cultural space - personal and family circles, political and public activities, social life in general.

Nature and Grace: Why this Catholic Delineation of the 'Supernatural' is Important for Pentecostals

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-122
Author(s):  
Ralph Del Colle
Keyword(s):  
Human Experience ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Divine Agency ◽  
Secular World ◽  
Nature And Grace ◽  
The World ◽  
Christian Witness ◽  
The Church

AbstractThe traditional Catholic distinction of nature and grace is utilized to examine the importance of maintaining the 'supernatural' character of grace as Christian theology is increasingly concerned about the modality of divine agency beyond the church and the necessity of Christian witness in the world in all dimensions of human experience. The inseparability but distinction between grace and faith experience is employed in service of a common Catholic and Pentecostal witness to the signification of the supernaturality of grace to counter any tendency toward religious naturalism in the effort to promote Christian witness in the secular world.

Sociology, What's it for? A Critique of Gouldner

1999 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 113-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martyn Hammersley
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Political Action ◽  
Mission Statement ◽  
Max Weber ◽  
Factual Knowledge ◽  
Sociological Analysis ◽  
Sociological Perspective ◽  
Sociology Of Scientific Knowledge ◽  
The World

In this paper I argue against the influential ‘mission statement’ offered by Alvin Gouldner in his book For Sociology. This treats the discipline as supplying a reflexive perspective on social life that will lead political action towards the realisation of Enlightenment ideals. I point out that Gouldner is inconsistently reflexive, preserving his own position from the corrosive effects of the kind of sociological analysis he applies in criticising others. I contrast this with the reflexivity advocated by Steve Woolgar, deriving from the sociology of scientific knowledge. Woolgar suggests that reflexivity is always selective, and that (contrary to Gouldner) there is no sociological essence to be realised. Instead, the task for sociologists is to construct and reconstruct both sociology and its context, so as to bring off a practically successful mode of knowledge production. I argue that while Woolgar's position points to some genuine problems, it too is unsatisfactory. This is because he shares with Gouldner the assumption that a sociological perspective can be the basis for action in the world; what might be called the ‘grand conception’ of its role. I conclude that a more modest approach is required, similar to the position taken by Max Weber. This treats sociology as no more than a source of specialised factual knowledge about the world. Its practical value is considerable, but nevertheless limited. Above all, it cannot offer a self-sufficient answer to questions about ‘what's wrong?’ or ‘what is to be done?’.

scholarly journals Ocena regulacji w prawie Kościoła katolickiego dotyczących profilaktyki społecznej w kontekście prawa polskiego

2016 ◽  
pp. 5-19
Author(s):  
Piotr Kroczek
Keyword(s):  
Catholic Church ◽  
Moral Obligation ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Local State ◽  
State Law ◽  
Spiritual Community ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World ◽  
Church Law ◽  
The Church

These days one can observe a huge interest in social prevention in Poland. Many institutions and or-gans of Polish state authorities and of the local state authorities are engaged in the activity in question. The Church, of course, due to the fact that it is a visible association and a spiritual community, which goes forward togeth-er with humanity and experiences the same earthly lot which the world does (GS 40), has a moral obligation to strive for the good of the whole society, not only for the good of the faithful. The paper aims to investigate whether the Catholic Church legislation contains any rules about the matter of social prevention. Both, universal church law and particular church law are analyzed. The main conclusion is that the church legislative bodies do not use thorough-ly the possibilities given by Polish state law to involve the Church, which is still an important element of social life in Po-land, in the social prevention actions. Changing the situation would be of help to fulfill the missions of the Church and would contribute to strengthening of the Church’s position in Poland.

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