The Effect and Spread of Arminianism Against Calvinism in America

Year 2023, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 161 - 188, 31.12.2023

Harun Ceylan

https://doi.org/10.51490/oksident.1373988

Abstract

Within Protestant theology, Arminianism is a theological perception based on the views of Jacob Arminius (1559-1609), who lived in the Netherlands in the 16th century, and it opposes Calvinism’s theological propositions on fate, grace, human will, the atonement of Jesus, and the perseverance of believers. Arminianism, which started to find a place in England with the influence of Remonstrants, later moved to America with intense migrations. In America especially John Wesley and Methodists played an important role in the spread of Arminianism. Many Protestant denominations in America prefer the belief in destiny based on the emphasis of Arminianism on universal atonement and the will of man in salvation rather than the principles of Calvinism.
In this article, firstly, the life of Arminius will be presented, and then his objections to Calvin’s Reformed theology will be discussed. Later, the spread of Arminianism in America will be mentioned. At this point, John Wesley’s Arminianism will be discussed. Then the Protestant communities that are closer to the Arminian approach rather than Calvinism will be mentioned. By this study, Arminian Protestant theology in America will be explained although this theology is not completely based on the arguments of classical Arminianism. Thus, the origin and course of the theological debates between Calvinism and Arminianism that have continued until today in America will be revealed.

Keywords

Arminianism, Calvinism, America, Methodism, Protestant denominations, History of Religions, Christianity

Amerika'da Kalvinciliğe Karşı Arminciliğin Etkisi ve Yayılışı

Abstract

Protestan teoloji içerisinde Armincilik, 16. yüzyılda Hollanda’da yaşamış olan Jacob Arminius’un (1559-1609) teolojik görüşlerine dayanan ve Kalvinciliğin kader, lütuf, insan iradesi, İsa’nın kefareti, inananların korunmuşluğu konularındaki teolojik önermelerine karşı çıkan bir anlayıştır. Arminius’tan sonra onun takipçileri olan Remonstrantların etkisiyle İngiltere’de yer bulmaya başlayan Armincilik, yoğun göçlerle birlikte Amerika’ya da taşınmıştır. Özellikle John Wesley ve Metodistler Arminciliğin yayılmasında önemli bir rol üstlenmişlerdir. Amerika’da ortaya çıkmış olan birçok Protestan cemaat, Kalvinciliğin ilkelerinden çok Arminciliğin evrensel kefarete ve insanın kurtuluştaki iradesine vurguya dayanan kader inancını tercih etmiştir.
Bu makalede, öncelikle Arminius’un hayatından bahsedilecek, sonra onun Calvin’in Reform teolojisine olan itirazları ele alınacaktır. Daha sonra Arminciliğin Amerika’da yayılışından bahsedilecek, bu noktada John Wesley’in Arminciliği ele alındıktan sonra kader, kefaret, lütuf, irade konularında Kalvincilik yerine Arminciliğe yakın olan Protestan cemaatlerden bahsedilecektir. Böylelikle klasik Arminciliğin argümanlarına tamamen dayanmasa da Amerika’da Arminci olarak nitelenen Protestan teoloji ortaya konmuş olacak ve Amerika’da Kalvincilik ile Armincilik arasında günümüzde de devam eden teolojik tartışmaların kökeni ve seyri ortaya konmuş olacaktır.

Keywords

Armincilik, Kalvincilik, Amerika, Metodizm, Protestan cemaatler, Dinler Tarihi, Hıristiyanlık

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