The Anti-Calvinist Rant

[Updated and shortened, kind of] Here are 12 [updated to 14] tips, from my own experience (for the average Christian, not necessarily seminary theologians), on how to study critically, to read Scripture critically, and to think critically about Calvinism, to see that Calvinism does not fit with Scripture: 1.   Before you start researching, pray.  Sincerely pray and ask God to open your eyes to the truth about what the Bible says, about what Calvinism teaches, about if Calvinism accurately reflects the Word and God's character, or not. Even ask God to examine your heart, to reveal to you if you are willing to see the Truth or not, if you are willing to be corrected or not.  If you are not willing to be corrected and simply want to believe what you want to believe, then don't expect God to answer you or to show you the Truth. But if you really do want God's truth and are willing to admit you might have been wrong all along, ask Him to show it to you, to make it clear to yo...

FYI, Due to some family troubles, I will not be writing much lately.  My brain is exhausted and I can't think clearly.  And so I know I need to step back from this a bit and just rest.   I do have a couple of posts waiting in the wings, and I will eventually get around to posting them.  But they will be few and far between for a little while.  I just can't even really think lately because my head is so tired that it almost hurts to think too deeply.   I also will eventually be posting some really good comments that are in the comment section of a blog I like to visit, interactions between Calvinists and non-Calvinists.  Lots of interesting things to see in these conversations, things that I think are worth sharing in their own posts.  But like I said ... "eventually." Anyway, I just wanted to explain why I seem to be so quiet lately, and why I will be for a while longer.  Thanks for understanding.  (And I would appreciate any praye...

(For an updated post with the actual memes, not just links, click here .) So what drew you to Calvinism? Where do you get your theology from? What is it again ... In the Bible ... Can we resist God's Will? Can we make choices? Can anyone believe ... Doesn't God cause sin? Doesn't God punish us ... God causes evil ... Yeah, why? I don't think Calvinism makes sense ... Uhhh ... ...Contradictions... ... Believe ... I reject Calvinism ...

Because it  appears  to teach biblical truth while actually teaching  the opposite  - while using  manipulation and cult-like tactics to suck you in!  And it's spreading.  Stealthily, fast, aggressively. (We watched it happen firsthand in our church, which is why I wrote this blog.  See  "What's the best way to make people agree with your Calvinist views?"    Sadly, we ended up  leaving that church , a place we attended almost 20 years.) [ I updated this November 2022 to try to shorten it.  I failed.  But I hope it's more readable and streamlined at least.   If you only read one anti-Calvinism post of mine, I think it should be this one.  But I'm warning you, this post is long.  Very long.  So pack a lunch and bring a sleeping bag.  But it has to be long because Calvinism is so deceptively convoluted that it takes time to peel off the layers so that you can see it for what it really is.  ...