Moderate Calvinism

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Moderate Calvinism (or moderate Arminianism) is sometimes called the "non-traditional view" of Calvinism. It is a medley of Calvinist and Arminian soteriology. Prominent apologists for and supporters of moderate Calvinism have included theologians James Orr, Henry C. Thiessen, Charles C. Ryrie, Zane C. Hodges and Josh McDowell, ministers Charles Stanley and Bill Bright, and philosophers Norman Geisler and Ravi Zacharias.

[edit] Criticism

Traditional Calvinist thinkers often feel this moderate label is a misnomer that incorrectly attempts to portray their position as "extreme"^{[citation needed]}. They insist that historical Calvinist doctrines are diametrically opposed to Arminian ones (as explained in the Canons of Dort) and cannot be "blended" with them as theologian Norman Geisler attempts to do in his book, Chosen But Free.^{[citation needed]}

Geisler and other moderate Calvinists have generally denied the following Calvinist distinctives (collectively referred to by the acronym TULIP): unconditional election, limited atonement, and irresistible grace; yet they have retained modified versions of total depravity and perseverance of the saints. Because of this, James R. White, the Calvinist apologist who wrote The Potter's Freedom in response to Geisler's book, asserts that "inconsistent Arminianism" is a more accurate description of this position than "moderate Calvinism."