3) Figures representing Christianity
2. John Calvin (1509-1564, French reformer and theologian)
I recognize the theoretical problem of the doctrine of absolute predestination in traditional theology
As God tried to come to man, he suffered unimaginable hardship and trouble. Behind history, God’s heart is concealed, for no matter how miserable he felt, he would not show his pain to his children. In particular, Calvin felt deeply sorry when he heard that in the history of the dispensation for restoration, we didn’t even know that God is our Parent. Before, Calvin thought that God will accomplish his will on his own, because God is omnipresent and omnipotent. Calvin thought that all that the omnipotent power of God would solve all that had arisen in the Dispensation for Restoration, whether difficulties, joys, or sadness. In particular, Calvin didn’t even imagine that God is the God of righteousness, sorrow, and regret.
Calvin did not think that the human fall was the fault of man and woman, but just stuck to the be-lief that God predestined the fall. Calvin knew that his belief was self-evident, beyond doubt. In fact, even though Calvin himself endlessly questioned why God created humans so defective that they could violate God’s words, I couldn’t find a definite answer.
Here at the seminar to which many important persons were invited, Rev. Lee Sang-Hun discussed the differences between the thought of True Parents and the thought of Calvin. After that, as Calvin listened to the entire Principle, in particular, the theory of Dispensational Time Identity,he admired it. Reverend Lee SangHun gave me his lectures, shedding tears and trying to make me understand.
Reverend Lee said, "If I had not been taught the teachings of Reverend Sun Myung Moon, today I would be wandering around at the bottom of hell," and confessed, "After long years of mental conflict and suffering, upon hearing the Principle I was able to set my course of life." The Principle utterly demolished Calvin’s theory.
Calvin believes in God as the absolute being and comprehends the doctrine of absolute predestination just from the perspective of God’s will. I, Calvin, am extremely regretful. I recommend that all believers study the Principle. Without understanding why the absolute being, God, created this universe, centered upon humankind, we cannot attend God as the Parent of humankind.
I am thankful to Reverend Lee Sang Hun. Those thinkers and philosophers who cling to Calvin’s thought will feel shameful when they hear the Principle. They will realize that Calvin’s thought is just a fragment of the truth.
I request that people on earth make a systematic study of Unification Thought and the Unification Principle. These serve as two axes that lead us to understand the fundamentals of human life. And people on earth must have absolute faith in and absolute obedience to Reverend Sun Myung Moon, who came as the Messiah, the Parent of humankind, and clarified the Principle. John Calvin promises to do this.
I bear in my mind the lesson that the doctrine of absolute predestination presently adopted in Christianity is quite wrong and it originated from a error concerning God’s fundamental Will. This is John Calvin’s confession. Thank you very much. John Calvin — 9. 16. 2001 |