The January Series of Calvin College

Separation of Church and State - Calvin Style: A 500th Anniversary Celebration

John Calvin called for the separation of church and state but not the division of religion and politics. He advocated human rights but always with corresponding religious duties. He accepted democracy and rule of law but within the confines of a refined and rigorous Christian republicanism. In this lecture celebrating the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth, one of the world's leading scholars of law and religion assesses Calvin's political legacy and its enduring lessons for us still today.