General
Benjamin Field, The Student's Handbook of Christian Theology
A concice systematic theology by Methodist Benjamin Field written in 1870. (link)
Jerry Walls, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH CALVINISM?"
Submitted by SEA on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 11:22amTaken from http://www.catalystresources.org/issues/351Walls.htm
WHAT IS WRONG WITH CALVINISM?
One of the most longstanding debates in the history of theology concerns the relationship between predestination and human freedom. On one side of this dispute, the most famous name is John Calvin, and on the other the most noted name is probably John Wesley. Although Wesley was primarily concerned with evangelism and church renewal, the very nature of his work required him to take positions on certain controversial issues. Perhaps the most significant of these involved his disputes with Calvinism; indeed, his work on these issues represents one of his most important contributions to historical theology.
What is an Arminian?
Submitted by WilliamBirch on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 8:56amby Roger E. Olson
Contrary to what some critics say, an Arminian is someone who believes that salvation is all of grace and through faith alone without any merit (except, of course, the merits of Christ). An Arminian is also someone who believes, contrary to Calvinism, that the person being saved is enabled by grace to cooperate in his or her salvation without “contributing” anything meritorious to it. In other words, God does all the saving but he won’t save without our consent.
All this is spelled out so clearly in Arminius and Wesley and other classical Arminians that one has to wonder about those who say otherwise. For example, Calvinists and some Lutheran critics who argue that Arminianism makes “man” his own savior. One leader of the “young, restless, Reformed” movement says that according to Arminianism the cross of Jesus Christ doesn’t actually save anyone but only gives people the opportunity to save themselves. That is, of course, pure hogwash.
Opera theologica By Simon Episcopius
This is the Latin text of the incomplete systematic theology of Arminius' greatest student and leader of the Remonstrants at Dort, Simon Episcopius. Opra Theologica
Nichols’ Calvinism & Arminianism Compared 1824
James Nichols did a great amout of work getting Arminian books published, but he also wrote a bit himself. Here’s his work Calvinism and Arminianism Compared in Their Principles and Tendency. (link)
Some Wise Words of Caution from John Piper to the Young, Restless, & Reformed that Can Be Applied to the Young, Alarmed, and Arminian
Submitted by SEA on Wed, 07/21/2010 - 10:06amAm I recommending some comments by staunch Calvinist John Piper? Yes indeed. I disagree vehemently with him about Calvinism and Arminianism, but count him as a brother in Christ, an erudite Christian scholar, and a godly man with many good, biblical things to say. Here I want to direct your attention to some wise words of caution he gave for the Young, Restless, & Reformed that can be applied with little alteration to the Young, Alarmed (Why alarmed? Because of the resurgence of the false doctrine of Calvinism), and Arminian. Here is a Link to Piper's Comments, the essence of which is, beware of pride and intellectualism, and ultimately loving one's theology more than God. The link is to the edited transcript of Piper's comments. At the link, one can also find more links to watch or listen to them.
Limborch’s Systematic Theology
Philip van Limborch (1633-1712) wrote the first complete Remonstrant Systematic Theology. Though he slighted original sin and had questionable views on total depravity, he still does make some very strong points against Calvinism. Here’s an Engish translation of his work entitled “A Compleat System, or Body of Divinity, both Speculative and Practical”: (link)
Unitarianism and Arminianism at Odds
Submitted by WilliamBirch on Wed, 06/30/2010 - 10:02amIt has been noted that historically, future generations of "Arminians" departed from the orthodox view of the Trinity, falling into the Unitarian heresy. The same sad state of affairs happened to many Presbyterian (i.e. Calvinistic) congregations during the eighteenth century. Therefore, it is puzzling how Arminianism is solely charged with inevitably leading one to a Unitarian understanding of God.
"Thoughts on Original Sin" by Robert Hamilton
You may view this article as a web page or as a downloadable .pdf file in it's original formatting. To view it as a .pdf file, please click on the attachment located at the bottom of this page.
Thoughts on Original Sin
Bob Hamilton, Copyright 2000
Introduction.
The traditional view of "original sin" includes two related ideas:
Steve Gregg on Calvinism
The full title of the attached file, compiled and arranged by Steve Gregg, is "God's Sovereignty and Man's Salvation: Calvinism: Comparative Charts for Evaluating the Biblical Basis for Calvinist and Non-Calvinist Theological Constructs".
