Reply 1
MY POST
EDUCATIONAL THINKER AND HISTORICAL ERA 4
Medieval Era - Calvin
Philosophy is seen as an ordinary compliment to the reflection of theology in the history of Christian theology. The educational practitioners of the two sectors view each other as deadly rivals. Some early Christian educational thinkers such as John Calvin presented the view that an intrusion to the secular philosophical justifications was out of order. This paper discusses the significant philosophical thoughts of John Calvin as an educational thinker. It also presents the biblical worldview of the thoughts and actions of the educational thinker.
Key Philosophical Thoughts and Actions of Calvin
John Calvin was a well-known educational thinker and a leader of the protestant reformation in France (Bergmann, 2011). He propagated the belief in the dominion of God in all aspects of life, including education. This theological approach is called the Calvinism. Calvinism comprises of five major doctrines including total depravity, limited atonement, unconditional election, the perseverance of the saints and irresistible grace abbreviated as the TULIP. Education and teaching for Calvin imply that the educator should continuously set forward the truth of God, which leads to the education of the church (Gutek, 2011). The whole theological undertaking of Calvin seems like having conceived ideas that hunger and thirst for the truth of God. Calvin sees every aspect of his labors as advancing the kingdom of God through teaching and enlightening the people with little or no knowledge about Christ (Gordon, 2016). This includes work in education designed to protect the truth of God in the face of deception and lies.
Analysis and Criticism from a Biblical Worldview
Calvin admits to having three significant purposes in his ministry and theological expressions (Bergmann, 2011). First, he focuses on how the glory of God can be promoted on the entire earth. Secondly, it determines how the truth of God can reserve its dignity. Third, he focuses on how the kingdom of God can be reinforced through learning and education and kept safe and compact. The thoughts and actions of Calvin were guided by the Scripture of the Lord and applied to different contexts that provided authenticity to the kingdom of God. This commitment to promoting the word of God through learning is included in his academic theology work.
According to Calvin, God could be expected to increase the cause of his glory through education and the faithful declaration of the truth in his Gospel (Gordon 2016). The saints can be blessed and instructed by the faithful hearing of the gospel of Christ and obeying the commandments of God. Calvin develops different forms of instruction through his ministry and declared the glory of God through the educational philosophies. Calvin does not, however, conceive his thoughts for the sake of perpetuating the conventional mode of instruction that obscures the purposes of his ministry (Gutek, 2011). Instead, he scrutinized his thoughts and actions based on the truth of God and the advancement of the kingdom of Christ. As such, Calvin perceives education as a means of glorifying the name of God and the teaching of church through the promotion of the truth of Christ in a manner that people are taught to serve and worship God as they ought.
Conclusion
There are different responses to the objection in literature basing on the works of different educational thinkers. The philosophies and thoughts brought about by John Calvin are well-developed and formally recognized concerning the biblical worldview on education and teaching. In conclusion, the doctrine of glorifying the name of God, speaking God's truth and promoting the kingdom of Christ is relevant in Calvin's thoughts and actions.
References
Bergmann, M., Murray, M., and Rea, M. (2011). Divine evil? The moral character of the God of the Hebrew Bible, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Gutek, G. L. (2011). Historical and philosophical foundations of education: A biographical introduction (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Spykman, G. J. (1976). “Sphere-sovereignty in Calvin and the Calvinist tradition,” in Exploring the heritage of John Calvin (ed. D. E. Holwerda; Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1976) 206.
http://www.foundationsforliving.org/articles/foundation/worldview1.html
https://www.gospelproject.com/the-importance-of-a-christian-worldview/
https://christianworldview.net/
http://www.calvin.edu/academic/education/news/publications/monoweb/