Customer Reviews

Creating a Christian Worldview: Abraham Kuyper's Lectures on Calvinism

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As a non-seminarian Calvinist, I originally approached this book with mixed emotions. On one hand, I knew absolutely nothing about Kuyper, other than he was considered a great theologian by other Christian writers whom I respected. On the other hand, personal experience has often proved that theological works are difficult and dry reading.

I was absolutely pleased with Heslam's book and now realize how fortunate I am to have found it as my initial introduction to this great Dutchman. First, it provided me with sufficient background on the man Kuyper before launching into an analysis of Kuyper's 1898 Stone lectures. Second, the author uses the Stone lectures to provide a general overview on the content and development of Kuyper's Calivinist theology. He does an excellent job of capturing the whole Kuyper--from his brillance to his bombast.

Despite the fact I have occassionally and informally been reading works on Calvinism for the last ten years, this book shed significant light for me on many issues that I had never before fully understood.

While the author stresses that Kuyper must be viewed within the times he lived in, I certainly saw the relevance of his teachings on Christian worldview for today. I highly recommend this book!

This book is a characterization of Abraham Kuyper's characterization of Calvinism, which are the thoughts, and insights of John Calvin about the Christian Faith. I have not read the Stone Lectures delivered by Kuyper at Princeton Theological Seminary in1898; I recommend doing so before reading this work; the book is available on Amazon for fourteen dollars. Heslam's book is an easy read which discuses the thoughts of Abraham Kuyper about the theological construct of John Calvin and its effects on how one perceives Christianity, religion in general, social issues, politics, science and philosophy in general. Abraham Kuyper had a different perspective then most had being a pastor, a professor of theology, being a member of Dutch parliament, a major proponent of private schools, publisher of a major newspaper, major advocate of religious pluralism, founder of a University free from state control, and leader of the antirevolutionare party. The author of this book gives an excellent biography of Kuyper, the Netherlands and the European world of the 19th century. Anyone who enjoys George Marsden's books about the American University, academic debate, and Christianity should find this book interesting. This book discusses what Kuyper thought about other schools of theological thought and their departure from scripture. This book discusses what Kuyper thought other philosophies' popular at the time and how the Christian should engage in the debate with those who did not want to deal with the concept of God. This book uses philosophic terms sparingly so the reader can easily understand the point of departure. Peter S. Heslam makes clear early on in this book that the theme of this book is about one man's worldview and the presentation is excellent. I have read large portions of Calvin's Institutes and I do not recognize how certain viewpoints in this book are Calvinistic.

Very helpful supplement to Kuyper's lectures. Provided good background material and has an extensive bibliography and footnote material for further reading. Presents thoughtful and balanced commentary on Kuyper and the lectures he gave at Princeton, situating them historically in terms of Kuyper's own life and theology.

After procuring a copy of this book, I discovered that it does not even reproduce Kuyper's lectures.