Episode Details

This episode details the life and influence of John Calvin, a prominent French theologian and a central architect of the Protestant Reformation. Initially educated as a humanist lawyer, Calvin famously broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and eventually settled in Geneva, where he established a new system of church governance and liturgy. His seminal work, Institutes of the Christian Religion, defines his core theological convictions, most notably the doctrine of predestination and the absolute sovereignty of God. Beyond his religious leadership, the text explores his political thought, emphasizing a preference for mixed government and the separation of powers. Despite enduring significant civil opposition and participating in the controversial execution of Michael Servetus, Calvin’s organizational efforts helped transform his ideas into the global movement known as Calvinism. Today, his legacy persists through numerous Reformed denominations and the various educational institutions he helped inspire.