I have a theological question based on something earlier in the conversation.

My original question to Todd dealt with whether or not a person could fall from the faith (the view I had learned was supported by him), but in the end I learned far more about Calvinism than was immediately relevant to the original question. My understanding of them, particularly of their doctrine of predestination, has been completely revolutionized.

Calvinism can be summarized in the acronym TULIP:

• Total depravity – man is incapable of doing anything good
• Unconditional election – God chooses who he will save, and it has nothing to do with their merit
• Limited atonement – God’s work on the cross only applies to the elect
• Irresistible grace – the elect can’t be taken from God’s grace, he will save who he has chosen to save
• Perseverance of the saints – the truly saved can’t lose their salvation

The question I originally asked is linked to the “P” of the acronym, but that just touches on what I learned. To me, the most significant thing I learned was the rationale behind predestination. Because of the doctrine of total depravity, man cannot choose God. That would be a truly good choice and therefore something that totally depraved creature would be incapable of. This pervades all other letters of the acronym, and illuminated for me the core of Calvinistic doctrine (a doctrine I don't hold, just to be clear).