John Calvin

Abstract

This article provides an overview and critique of John Calvin’s understanding of non-Christian philosophy and religions. I suggest Calvin’s thinking differed in three significant ways from early and medieval church belief. First, he gave a far less prominent place to the role of the demonic in religions. Second, Calvin rejected both traditional and Renaissance versions of the prisca theologia. Finally, it is noted that he explained glimmers of truth in non-Christian religion and philosophy by developing a rather unique understanding of human enlightenment as gifting from a specific role of the Logos rather than as enlightenment by the Logos per se.