1.
The character of this natural endowment
Calvin believes that in the human mind there is a natural
awareness of divinity that has been planted there by God Himself. As a progression from this human beings
condemn themselves if they fail “to honour him and consecrate their lives to do
His will”. Any nation that does not
honour God is therefore barbarous. This
is in agreement with the presupposition of Cicero in “On the nature of
gods” believing in a “sense of
deity inscribed in the hearts of all”.
The establishment of this comes through idolatry: for Calvin
human beings prefer to worship wood and stone rather than admit or think that
there is any god at all. Thus Calvin
believes that placing other creatures above themselves and turning them into
gods is an unwilling human action. Could
this still be true today? There are many
who place other things far above any notion of god –could this be trying to
hide from the knowledge of God that is naturally implanted?
May be the knowledge of God is so suppressed that it finds
its way into aggression towards God and towards his representatives here on
earth –those who actually do believe in Him?
Calvin believes it is impossible to erase the knowledge of God that is
implanted in us: is that true for you?
Most people have moments of doubt: what brings you back to
acknowledging God’s presence deep inside you?
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