Is there a relationship between humanism and Calvinism, and if so how did the movements influence each other during the years of the Reformation? This is the question that author, Robert D. Linder, is seeking to prove and remedy in his article, “Calvinism and Humanism: The First Generation.” Robert D. Linder inclusively examines how historians in the past converge to prove a relationship between humanism and the Lutheran Reformation, “but in case of humanism and Calvinism no consensus has been reach concerning this problem” (p.167). Therefore, the purpose of the article is to enhance and inquire the historical underlying connection between the two movements through an assessment of the life of three important first generation leaders of the Reformed Church (p.167). The analysis of three reformers, John Calvin, Theodore Beza, and Pierre Viret will be subject to examination to link humanism and Calvinist movements. Moreover, Robert D. Linder wants to distinguish the analysis of Pierre Viret’s life due to new evidence which establishes connections between the two movements.
Consequently, the purpose of the article constructs difficulties associated with the historical interpretation enclosed within it. Overall, Robert D. Linder, distinguishes “both movements are not material objects and are composed of ideas which can be grouped in many ways, which often overlap each other” (p.170). Foremost, historians have created multi-faceted and multi-layered information pertaining to the Calvinist movement and Christian humanism. In particular the author discusses two kinds of humanism, and that the adjective “Christian” can be pre-fixed to both. According to Paul O. Kristeller, the definition of humanism refers to the c ...