3. Rational value of the doctrines of the
Reformation.
The Reformation overturned all Europe, and came near to
ruining France, of which it made a battle-field for a period of
fifty years. Never did a cause so insignificant from the
rational point of view produce such great results.
Here is one of the innumerable proofs of the fact that
beliefs are propagated independently of all reason. The
theological doctrines which aroused men's passions so violently,
and notably those of Calvin, are not even worthy of examination
in the light of rational logic.
Greatly concerned about his salvation, having an excessive
fear of the devil, which his confessor was unable to allay,
Luther sought the surest means of pleasing God that he might
avoid Hell. Having commenced by denying the Pope the right to
sell indulgences, he presently entirely denied his authority, and
that of the Church, condemned religious ceremonies, confession,
and the worship of the saints, and declared that Christians
should have no rules of conduct other than the Bible. He also
considered that no one could be saved without the grace of God.
This last theory, known as that of predestination, was in
Luther rather uncertain, but was stated precisely by Calvin, who
made it the very foundation of a doctrine to which the majority
of Protestants are
still subservient. According to him: “From all eternity God
has predestined certain men to be burned and others to be
saved.” Why this monstrous iniquity? Simply because “it
is the will of God.”
Thus according to Calvin, who for that matter merely
developed certain assertions of St. Augustine, an all-powerful
God would amuse Himself by creating living beings simply in order
to burn them during all eternity, without paying any heed to
their acts or merits. It is marvellous that such revolting
insanity could for such a length of time subjugate so many
minds—marvellous that it does so still.1
The psychology of Calvin is not without affinity with that
of Robespierre. Like the latter, the master of the pure truth,
he sent to death those who would not accept his doctrines. God,
he stated, wishes “that one should put aside all humanity
when it is a question of striving for his glory.”
The case of Calvin and his disciples shows that matters
which rationally are the most contradictory become perfectly
reconciled in minds which are hypnotised by a belief. In the
eyes of rational logic, it seems impossible to base a morality
upon the theory of predestination, since whatever they do men are
sure of being either saved or damned. However, Calvin had no
difficulty in erecting a most severe morality upon this totally
illogical basis. Considering themselves the elect of God, his
disciples were so swollen by pride and the sense of their own
dignity that they felt obliged to serve as models in their
conduct.
