Justin Taylor has drawn attention to a short piece in The Economist that reports on the resurgence of Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention and evangelicalism in general. According to Taylor, “It’s sort of a mish-mash piece and at times unintentionally comical (e.g., “Calvinists think that God selects certain people for damnation; Baptists are more easy-going”). But interesting that they are covering the issue in the first place.”
Interesting indeed. But I’m not so sure that the comment about Calvinist beliefs is particularly comical. Note, for example, this quote from perhaps the leading voice of the Calvinist resurgence among evangelicals, John Piper, who asserts that God “decides who will believe and undeservingly be saved and who will rebel and deservingly perish.” (Check out our brief post on this quote: Another Chilling Calvinist Quote). “Chillingly accurate” might be a better description than “comical.”
