Calvin - Histoire et réception d'une Réforme

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Introduction

### Course Review: "Calvin - Histoire et réception d'une Réforme" **Overview:** "Calvin - Histoire et réception d'une Réforme" is an engaging course available on Coursera that delves into the life and theological thought of John Calvin (1509-1564) and his lasting influence on the modern world. Conducted in French with English subtitles, this course blends detailed scholarship with accessible pedagogy, making it an ideal choice for anyone interested in Protestant Reformation history, theology, or the broader cultural implications of Calvinism. ### Course Breakdown: The course is structured into five comprehensive modules, each focusing on different aspects of Calvin's life and thought: 1. **La vie de Calvin - Calvin's Life**: The first module serves as an introduction to Calvin, mapping out crucial milestones in his life. It begins by defining "reform" within the historical context of 16th-century Europe, exploring Calvin’s early life, his time in Geneva, Strasbourg, and back to Geneva until his death. The module highlights significant events such as the Servetus case, which is critical for understanding Calvin's role in Geneva's religious landscape. This segment equips students with a foundational understanding of Calvin’s biography and contextualizes his contributions within the broader Reformation. 2. **La pensée théologique de Calvin - Calvin's Theology**: The second week dives into Calvin's theological contributions. It discusses his relationship with scriptural texts, key theological themes such as divine election, the nature of the Church, and the sacraments. The module not only presents Calvin's thoughts but also engages with contemporary scholarship, enriching participants' understanding of Calvin’s theological innovations and how they reshaped Protestant thought. 3. **L'éthique de Calvin - Calvin's Ethics**: Module three addresses Calvin's ethical understandings, rooted in the commandments of God, and his interpretations of the Law. It discusses the implications of Calvin's ethics in political, economic, and social spheres, offering insights into how his theological principles have influenced various aspects of life in Christian communities. 4. **La diffusion du calvinisme - The Spread of Calvinism**: This module examines the international reach of Calvinism post-1564. It explores how Calvin's ideas permeated church life and various domains such as the arts and philosophy across different continents. Participants will gain a well-rounded perspective on the dynamic and complex legacy of Calvinism as it evolved over time. 5. **Lire Calvin aujourd'hui - Reading Calvin Today**: The final module features insights from diverse experts who discuss the contemporary relevance of Calvin’s legacy. This segment provides a reflective look at how Calvin is perceived today and invites participants to consider varying viewpoints on his impact across different cultures. ### Overall Impression: This course is exceptionally well-structured, offering an academically rigorous yet accessible examination of Calvin's life and thought. The inclusion of English subtitles makes it accessible to a broader audience, allowing non-French speakers to engage deeply with the material. The instructors effectively balance historical context with theological analysis, ensuring that students not only learn about Calvin’s life but also appreciate the ongoing relevance of his ideas. ### Recommendations: I highly recommend "Calvin - Histoire et réception d'une Réforme" for students, theologians, historians, and anyone interested in the Reformation era or the lasting impact of Calvinism. Whether you are a novice or have a foundational understanding of Calvin’s work, this course will expand your knowledge and challenge your perspectives on religious transformation. Additionally, the final module, which explores contemporary views on Calvin, adds a unique dimension that is crucial for understanding his legacy in today’s world. Overall, this course is a gem on Coursera and certainly deserves a place in your educational journey!

Syllabus

La vie de Calvin - Calvin's life

Bienvenue dans cette première semaine de cours ! Après avoir défini le concept de réforme comme idéal de retour à un passé meilleur, et avoir situé d’une part les mouvements réformateurs en Europe (Luther, Zwingli, le réformisme français), d’autre part la Réforme à Genève, nous allons faire connaissance de Calvin: sa formation, son premier séjour à Genève (1536-1538), son étape strasbourgeoise (1538-1541), enfin l’établissement à Genève (de 1541 à sa mort en 1564). Nous verrons comment Calvin entend y construire la Réforme, grâce à des instruments institutionnels propres: le Consistoire, la Compagnie des pasteurs, l’Académie notamment. L’affaire Servet (du nom du médecin espagnol condamné à mort à Genève en 1553) fera l’objet d’une séquence entière, tout comme la période 1555-1564, la seule dont on puisse légitimement parler comme de la «Genève de Calvin». Cette première semaine devra permettre de faire le point sur le contexte historique et d’initier les étudiant-e-s à la biographie de Calvin. A la fin de cette semaine, les étudiant-e-s devraient connaître les grandes étapes de sa vie et être capables de situer Calvin au sein des mouvements de réforme du 16e siècle. Welcome in this first module of the course! After defining the concept of reform, looking at it as the ideal of a return to a (purer) past, we will attempt to provide a map of various reformatory movements in continental Europe (Luther, Zwingli, French reformatory movements). Only then will we begin focusing on the reformation in Geneva and the personality of John Calvin. We will consider his education, his first stay in Geneva (1536-1538), his years in Strasbourg (1538-1541) and his long activity, during the rest of his life, in Geneva (1541 until his death in 1564). We will see how Calvin sought to establish a reformation, through new institutional bodies, especially the Consistory (Consistoire), the Compagnie des pasteurs and the Academy. The Servetus case (Servetus was a Spanish doctor and intellectual who was executed as a heretic in Geneva in 1553) will be studied, as will be the final decade of Calvin's life, during which Geneva became "Calvin's Geneva". The goal of this first module is to introduce you to the historical context and to provide basic information about Calvin's biography. At the end of this module, you will have a good sens of the main stages of his life and you will be able to locate Calvin among other reformatory movements of the 16th century.

Calvin a été un réformateur non seulement de l’Église mais aussi de la théologie. Son œuvre fut avant tout une œuvre pastorale et théologique. Ce deuxième module présentera les principaux aspects de sa pensée théologique, en conversation avec la recherche récente. Après avoir examiné son rapport aux Écritures bibliques (Ancien et Nouveau Testament), nous passerons en revue plusieurs thèmes théologiques particulièrement importants pour lui : l’être humain, la connaissance de Dieu comme Père, l’œuvre réconciliatrice du Fils, le rôle de l’Esprit-Saint, l’élection divine, l’Église, les sacrements et la spiritualité.Lors de la deuxième semaine, nous nous pencherons sur ce qui constitua le cœur de l’action de Calvin : la réforme de la théologie et de l’Église à partir du message biblique. L’objectif de cette semaine est de présenter, d’analyser et d’évaluer des thèmes centraux de la pensée théologique de Calvin, en conversation avec la recherche récente. Au terme de cette semaine, les étudiant-e-s auront une idée plus précise de la manière dont Calvin réfléchissait sur des questions théologiques centrales. Calvin was not only a reformer of the Church, but also of theology. His work was above all a pastoral and a theological work. Module 2 of the course focuses on some of the main aspects of his theology, on the basis of recent scholarship. After examining Calvin's view of the Bible (Old and New Testaments), we will consider several themes which were of great importance to him: the human being, the knowledge of God as Father, Christ's reconciling work, the role of the Holy Spirit, God's election, the Church, the sacraments and spirituality. All of these themes belong to the heart of what animated him and his work: the reforming of theology and of the Church in the light of the biblical message. The goal of this module is to present, analyze and evaluate some of the main themes of Calvin's theology, at times in conversation with contemporary scholarship. At the end of module 2, you should have a good grasp of the ways in which Calvin reinterpreted central theological questions.

Ce troisième module présente l’éthique de Calvin. Nous aborderons le fondement théologique de son approche, à savoir le commandement de Dieu. Nous étudierons les trois usages de la Loi chez Calvin et la distinction entre les deux règnes, celui du royaume temporel et celui du royaume spirituel. L’éthique de Calvin sera caractérisée de trois manières, selon qu’elle se rapporte au Créateur, au Rédempteur ou au Sanctificateur. Nous discuterons enfin les conséquences politiques, économiques et sociales de l’éthique de Calvin. Ce module vise à mettre en lumière les spécificités d’une approche théologique de l’éthique et à comprendre la fécondité et les limites d’une telle approche. Module 3 focuses on Calvin's ethics. We will study the theological foundation of his ethical thinking, namely God's command. We will consider the three uses of the Law according to Calvin and his way of distinguishing between the two kingdoms, i.e. between the secular and the spiritual realms. Calvin's ethics is threefold, depending on its link to the Creator, the Reconciler and the Sanctifier. We will examine the political, economic and social import of his ethics. This second module seeks to shed light on the specificities of a theological approach to ethics as well as on the advantages and potential problems which may arise with such an approach.

Le calvinisme a connu une diffusion internationale très rapide et très variée, d’abord en Europe puis, au fil des siècles, sur tous les continents. Il faut distinguer deux plans de cette diffusion et réception du calvinisme : l’impact des idées de Calvin sur les Églises, sur le christianisme, et l’influence, plus difficile à étudier car plus diffuse, des idées de Calvin ou des idées qui se réclament de Calvin, dans toutes sortes de champs de la réalité humaine (arts, philosophie, culture). L’objectif principal de ce troisième module est d’offrir une large vision de l’héritage calvinien et calviniste à partir de 1564, en Europe et au-delà.

Calvinism spread internationally very rapidly and in quite diverse ways, first in Europe and then, in the course of time, on all continents. It is important to distinguish two aspects of this spread: the impact of Calvin's ideas on the Churches, on Christianity, on the one hand, and on the other the more diffuse influence of Calvin's ideas (or of ideas which claim to come from him) in all kinds of areas of our world (the arts, philosophy, culture, and so forth). The main objective of module 3 is to present a broad spectrum of the Calvinist (or Calvinian) legacy, from 1564 onwards, in Europe and beyond.

Dans ce cinquième et dernier module, diverses personnalités ont été invitées à s’exprimer. Elles ont été choisies en fonction de leur compétence et de leur provenance. Dans le cadre imparti, carte blanche leur est laissée d’exprimer un avis, parfois surprenant, sur l’héritage de Calvin aujourd’hui. Seront notamment proposées une séquence sur la légende noire de Calvin (n° 2), sur le programme du Monument international de la Réformation de Genève (n° 3), sur l’empreinte qui demeure, ou non, de Calvin à Genève (n° 4, par le prof. Selderhuis, l’un des plus grands connaisseurs de Calvin aujourd’hui), ou sur le calvinisme dans diverses aires culturelles (n° 5 à 8). Trois bilans personnels seront également proposés (n° 9 à 11), ainsi qu’une conclusion générale (n° 12).Notre dernière semaine a pour objectif à la fois de conclure le parcours proposé et d’ouvrir vers d’autres horizons culturels et géographiques. A la fin du cours, l’étudiant-e devrait mesurer la diversité de l’héritage calvinien.

In this fifth and last module, various personalities have been invited to speak. They were chosen in relation to their expertise and personal background. Each was invited to speak freely, to express an opinion on the relevance of Calvin's legacy today. Among the topics under discussion are the longstanding view of Calvin as a dictator, the Wall of the Reformation in Geneva, the impact of Calvin on today's city of Geneva (with special guest prof. Herman Selderhuis, a world-renowned expert on Calvin) and on various areas of culture. The main objective of this module, in conclusion of the entire course and as a way to open things up towards other cultural and geographical horizons, is to convey a sense of both the variety of opinions which may be expressed on Calvin and the breadth of Calvin's legacy.