Though I have a lot of issues with Calvin’s philosophy, or at least my understanding of it, I do want to acknowledge how significant it was in the Protestant Reformation and the development of the ideas of individualism in the evolution of Western culture.

In particular, I am very uncomfortable with Calvin’s idea of inherent depravity, and how that negatively impacts youth in particular. At least in my reading of history, Calvinism has contributed to “spare the rod and spoil the child” and a general sense by many adults, which seems still prevalent in many (most?) contemporary American schools that school-age youth are inherently unable to chart their own course.

I am not a Christian myself, and I struggle with this Christian concept of “sin”. I have read that maybe a different translation of the original Aramaic or ancient Hebrew of the bible would be a word more like “unknowing” than “sin”. I would be more comfortable looking at a life’s experience as starting at “unknowing” and attempting to more towards “knowing”.

I also don’t have the problem with the impacts of the philosophy of Evolution that you have. First of all, I find very little non-human animal behavior unethical, they coexist in harmony within the principles of their ecosystem. Secondly, I have more of a “new age” view that our human consciousness inhabits its various animal/human bodies for any number of lifetimes .

So if you are willing, please say more of how one moves from innate depravity to self-esteem, following Calvinist ideology.

Also FYI… you might be interested in my other blog post, “American Calvin” at http://www.leftyparent.com/blog/2009/05/14/american-calvin/. Again… you may disagree with my take, but I would welcome the discussion.

I understand where there can be some resentment toward Calvin’s teachings based on other people’s understanding of him. Especially when there is a whole culture that holds some serious misconceptions of Calvin’s teachings. But I would not hold him responsible for the poor teaching on the subject of ’self-esteem’ from American fundamentalism. Ironically, evangelicals have also swayed back and forth from poor self esteem and narcissism.

Calvin understood that man and woman was created in God’s image. We were designed specifically to be in perfect union with God. From this, it is very important we have a good self esteem. Why shouldn’t we? However, it is our own sin that has caused a separation between us and God. This separation was breeched through the death, burial, and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ.

So, in a sense, our bad self esteem has credibility in that it is true we are sinners. However, our faith in Christ’s work on the cross should cause us to nurture a very positive self-esteem, avoiding narcissism in knowing we did not earn our right. It was given to us.

I think the most damaging belief system to our self-esteem has been evolution. If we were not created for a purpose, and we are here by chance, why should I feel good about it? More importantly, how can I feel good about it without becoming narcissistic? If we are only ‘more evolved’ animals, why wouldn’t kids act like animals?

On another note, somewhere between 80% – 90% of all Calvin had written in Latin, has not yet been translated into English. What often passes for Calvinism today, often does not reflect what Calvin taught. Nonetheless, he has most certainly been the most influencing person in the history of Western civilization in the last 500 years.

In a nutshell, what does Spadaro say are the key requirements for kids to be able to give to themselves?