Core tenet of Calvinism (the Reformed tradition)
Grace is unconditional.
Chosen before the foundation of the world: election rests on God's will, not foreseen merit.
Understanding it — context, not catechism: how this passage is held
Unconditional election means God's choice is not based on any foreseen merit or faith in the person chosen. The system is usually summarized by the acronym TULIP, formulated at the Synod of Dort in 1619 against the Arminian position that grace can be resisted. Both sides were reading the same texts; the disagreement is about whether human freedom is compatible with divine sovereignty, and it is the same argument Islam and Judaism have in their own vocabularies.
The same ground, other faiths
claims that share this one's ideas
A
Augustine of Hippo — the North African who set the terms.
Christianity · figure
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Grace does the work; your effort is mostly getting out of the way.
Hinduism
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A
Amitabha — the buddha of infinite light.
Buddhism · figure
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M
Marudevi on the elephant.
Jainism · figure
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Mercy outruns wrath.
Islam
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Everything runs under hukam.
Sikhism
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