[P-Marlowe]

One would hope that even those who staunchly disagree with Calvin's theology would treat Calvin with the historical fairness accorded Calvin by his nineteenth century French opponent, Ernest Renan, who called him "the most Christian man of his age."

Sorry but I would not attribute that to any theologian of any age.

I would suggest that the "most Christian man of his age" was more likely some old illiterate hard working bricklayer who blew his back out building one of those gaudy European Cathedrals and yet continued to work in pain without complaining to anyone for another 20 years and who all the while had praise in his heart and gave glory to God, and who knew as much about intricacies of "Theology" as a 7 year old Sunday School pupil.

We simply know too much about the life of John Calvin to believe that he was "the most Christian man on his block," much less "the most Christian man of his age." He wasn't. He wasn't even a close second.

[RobbyS]

A gaudy European cathedral as opposed to any American skyscraper? a monument to Christ as opposed to one to Mammon?