Calvinism: the God of dice
Calvinism claims that election is unconditional and irresistable. No choice, and no merits of the one elected enter into the consideration. Ruling out merit or personal choice as an element of consideration, election must be either by arbitrary factors or by pure chance. The notion that God chooses the elect by arbitrary factors-red hair but not blonds, green-eyed but not brown, tall and not short-is absurd.
Which leaves us with chance. That is, God elects at random; being in the elect is a matter of probability. Only so many-a fifth, perhaps, or a tenth-will be elected, so that your chances of being elected are one in five or one in ten.
How then are the odds stacked? Pace Einstein, we are playing dice with the universe: but is the game in our favor, or not? Do we need a hard eight, or any eight? Would Calvin say, in a way almost too brusque for theology, that the dice are loaded?
If the game must nevertheless be played-if, as Calvin would argue, this soteriological lottery is necessary-why nevertheless would the odds be stacked against us? Is salvation more precious for being doled out sparingly? Then why not just a dozen or a hundred elect? Or is there a balance to be struck, between mercy and exclusivity, both equally precious values?
Which leaves us with chance. That is, God elects at random; being in the elect is a matter of probability. Only so many-a fifth, perhaps, or a tenth-will be elected, so that your chances of being elected are one in five or one in ten.
How then are the odds stacked? Pace Einstein, we are playing dice with the universe: but is the game in our favor, or not? Do we need a hard eight, or any eight? Would Calvin say, in a way almost too brusque for theology, that the dice are loaded?
If the game must nevertheless be played-if, as Calvin would argue, this soteriological lottery is necessary-why nevertheless would the odds be stacked against us? Is salvation more precious for being doled out sparingly? Then why not just a dozen or a hundred elect? Or is there a balance to be struck, between mercy and exclusivity, both equally precious values?