Question:  Greetings,

            I have two questions I hope you can answer for me:

1.      I have heard that St. Augustine believed that women did not have souls and that belief underlaid the subsequent treatment of women in the Middle Ages.  I have been unable to find any such assertion or inference in any of his writings that I have searched online.  Can you tell me if this is so?

2.      I have also heard that John Calvin believed that those who are saved by God will be successful and prosperous in this life and that those who are not saved will be failures and poor.  I likewise have been unable to substantiate this.  Can you offer any insight on the matter?

            Sincerely,

            Wayne

Answer:  Dear Wayne,

            I do not claim to be an expert on patristic church history, and certainly not regarding Augustine.  I have read just enough to be dangerous.  I do know he was honest about his struggle with sexuality.  Perhaps what you are alluding to comes out of that struggle.

            John Calvin.  Essentially the idea that I recall was stated another way: Christianity contains the seeds of its own failure.  That is, those who follow Christ, who serve and help others, who work hard (primarily the teaching to which you refer goes back to what is called the Protestant Work Ethic) will also, in many cases, be successful financially.  That is, Christianity often passes the pragmatic test—which for most North Americans today is the ultimate test.  If it works, it is true, relevant and good. This whole idea can quickly degenerate into several theological aberrations—works and deeds—salvation is earned by what we do, not what Christ did and does.

Secondly, the idea that we should become successful (to prove our spiritual worth, among other things) at all costs.  Many Christian businessmen of the past felt that virtually raping and pillaging the environment was justified because Genesis says we are to “have dominion” over the earth.  For the Christian businessmen this was a way to justify their wealth, which in turn justified their spiritual standing, in a crazy and twisted human reasoning.

Thirdly, more recently this teaching leads to the health/wealth gospel, particularly popular among the poor, sick and disenfranchised who believe that if they obey what the particular preacher says they will be healthy and wealthy.  After all (they believe), God promises to bless the obedient and curse the disobedient.

            All of this is far from the gospel of Jesus Christ of course.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht