Neo-Calvinism is the name given to a Dutch theological
tradition centered on Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920). Apart from being a theologian
and Church leader, Kuyper was also a politician. He founded the
Anti-Revolutionary Party (a Christian Democratic party) and briefly served as
the Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Two other prominent Neo-Calvinists were
Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer and Herman Bavinck.
If this sounds interesting, I wouldn't recommend starting with “Neo-Calvinism and the French Revolution”, a collection of articles about almost everything except Neo-Calvinism's view of said revolution! Reading it, I sometimes wondered whether the editors are trying to untie themselves from a contract with Warner Brothers Records, by swiftly releasing anything they can get their hands on? A bit like The Artist Formerly Known As Prince…
One contributor tries to claim Kuyper for pro-Muslim multi-culturalism, another attempts a “Kuyperan” reading of Kieslowski's “Three Colours” trilogy. Still another claims that Bavinck may have had Platonic and mystical leanings. Interesting, but what on earth has this got to do with Jacobins and Girondists? There is an admittedly interesting article on French revolutionary fashion, and a peculiar piece on theology and linguistics (think Tower of Babel and Pentecost). There is also an entertaining article on small “testimonial” political parties in the modern Netherlands, which insist on super-Christian politics in this most liberal of nations.
Ultimately, however, I don't think anyone is much wiser after reading this volume, recently published in paperback. If anyone wants to read up on Neo-Calvinism and the French Revolution, it seems that Groen's and Kuyper's own writings are a better start (and finish) than this curious potpourri…
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