John Calvin's problem was between his ears... His problem was with reason. A good brain but a confused mind. ...education and intelligence to figure it out but lacked the ability to focus on reason.
No, that would be Jacobus Arminius. And it was then just as it is now, because of hard-headedness and pride. Yes, Jacobus Arminius has influenced many, many people down through the centuries, especially people in the West.
Frustrated with his in ability to understand the Bible and Christianity.
The only thing John Calvin might have been (because we don't really know) really frustrated about was the obstinance and blindness of others.
His mind struggled with doubt, frustration, anxiety, confusion and lack of confidence.
LOL! We all struggle with doubt, frustration, and anxiety regarding all sorts of things. But with regard to the Bible, John Calvin obviously had no lack of confidence.
In the end, he had no idea why he could not figure it out so in frustration he more or less threw his hands up in air and preached right, wrong, or indifferent it was all God
That's not what he preached at all. He did preach the sovereignty of God, but that's an immutable truth of God's Word... a quality of God that is indisputable. As Job says,
"(God's) purposes cannot be thwarted" (Job 42:2). And as Paul says:
"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?' For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:33-36)
Like Augustine he thought no one had control of themselves...
Neither said that in any way, shape or form.
...and were dirty filthy rags unable of seeking good or God.
"...the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth" (God Himself, Genesis 8:21)
"...the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead" (Ecclesiastes 9:3)
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).
So God denied humanity the power of free will.
They didn't teach this, either. What people should be able to do is to distinguish autonomy from mere free will. Many will not do this, and that's the cause of their lack of understanding.
Sad that such a man preached that God was a monstrous Deity that made all reality a puppet show.
Well, now this is interesting. What they preached was the majesty and the splendor of God. Yes, there is a sadness to be aware of here, but that is that, out of pride and perceived offense, some still see God as monstrous and hold Him in contempt.
What value is there to belief and worship by people that are forced to....what justice is there for a God that predestined people to be evil and destined to hell.
No one is forced to do anything. Everyone gets what he/she wants. But God did make each one for a specific purpose, for sure. This is His right as Creator. He is the potter and we are the clay:
"But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have You made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show His wrath and to make known Yis power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory ~ even us whom He has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?”
Nowhere does Paul say we do not make a choice regarding God and His salvation, and even a free-will choice (there is no other kind of choice) at that. In fact, the strong implication is that we absolutely do make a free-will choice. But it
depends on God, which is exactly what Paul says earlier in Romans 9, namely verse 16.
...John Calvin... ...(l)ike the Taliban... believed in theocracy. Religious control of people based on denominational beliefs.
Nope. And nope. But he did believe in a Right and a wrong.
Grace and peace to you.