Calvinism is a minority religion today, but its ideology remains impressively powerful. It takes as its starting-point a principle known as ‘total depravity’, which asserts that humans have no virtues of their own and are dependent on God’s grace for everything, including their salvation and even the decision to convert to Calvinism. Little personal responsibility is required, for everything is pre-ordained, and no compromise is possible. The only possible attitude to such a God is one of perfect submission. In exchange, God grants His followers invincible strength: you give up your personal
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