Anti-Calvinists: The Rise of English Arminianism c. 1590-1640

by Nicholas Tyacke

Anti-Calvinists traces the rise of Arminianism from Elizabethan times, and argues that the subsequent proscription of Calvinism in the 1620s was a major cause of the civil war that broke out in 1642. As Arminianism triumphed under Charles I, it rekindled Puritan opposition to the established church. The theological dispute between Arminianism and Calvinism--Arminianism promoting the role of the sacraments and the grace they conferred, and Calvinism focusing on the grace of predestination--assumed greater significance as a struggle for control of the church itself. A provocative reinterpretation of the divisions of the Church of England, this work throws new light on the origins of the civil war and the role played by religious rivalry.

Genres: History, Religion

336 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 1987

Reviews

[Benjamin Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

45 years later, this is still one of the most important works on Early Stuart religious history.
He suffers a bit from the Calvin vs the Calvinist thesis, but debate over that topic is the focus of this work and the mastery of primary sources which this book evinces is remarkable.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this long ago back in 1990. The thesis is interesting:
(From the blurb)
"The author argues that it was Arminianism, not the rise of puritanism, that was a major cause of the war, not only because it was embraced by and imposed by an increasingly absolutist Charles I, which heightened the religious and political tensions of the period. Almost all English Protestants were members of the established church. Consequently, what was a theological dispute about rival views of the Christian faith, Arminianism promoting the role of the sacraments and the grace they conferred, Calvinism focusing on the grace of predestination, assumed wider significance as a struggle for control of that church. When Armianism triumphed, Puritan opposition to the established church was rekindled."

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could define some things better. Calvinism shows up primarily as predestination. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the subject, though.