Introduction: The Seed of Religion in Humanity
Human beings, as Calvin observed, are like factories intricately adorned by God’s handiwork and overflowing with His boundless richness.
People recognize that God works within them in various awe-inspiring ways, learning through experience that many gifts come from God’s generosity. Whether they choose to acknowledge it or not, they come to understand these are signs of divinity.
The Fall and Human Perception
In Zorba the Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis writes:
“The human soul is imprisoned in the body’s mud and is dull and slow. The soul’s perceptive abilities are crude and uncertain, and it cannot predict anything clearly or surely.”
If John Calvin had encountered this statement, he might have responded, “Mr. Zorba, you are both right and wrong.”
While human perception is flawed due to the Fall, this does not entirely hinder the ability to perceive God; rather, it only restricts the proper use of these functions.
The Persistence of Reason and Conscience
The Fall did not deprive humanity of reason, conscience, or moral awareness.
Arthur Pink noted that if these elements were stripped away, humanity would be something other than human.
Reason remains, enabling us to discern truth from falsehood, and conscience still guides us to distinguish between right and wrong. As Pink wrote,
“Man’s moral perception allows him to recognize contrasts within realms of virtue and beauty” (Pink).
Calvin’s Concept of the Seed of Religion
Calvin described this innate awareness of God as the seed of religion. In his Institutes of the Christian Religion, he explains,
“The ultimate goal of blessed life is to know God. To prevent anyone from being excluded from this happiness, God has sown this seed of religion within every human heart and reveals Himself daily throughout all creation. As a result, human beings, simply by opening their eyes, can see God.”
This implies that no one, no matter how ignorant or dull, can claim ignorance as an excuse.
The Glory of God in Creation
Even though God’s nature is incomprehensible and His divinity transcends all human understanding, He has inscribed clear marks of His glory on all creation.
These signs are so apparent that they leave everyone without an excuse. As Calvin points out, the heavens, as “God’s palace,” shine brightly with His majesty, serving as a constant reminder of His presence.
Human Accountability and the Evidence of God
Humans possess an unavoidable awareness of God. Whether we explain this through ancient philosophy or modern cognitive science, the reality remains.
Astronomy, for instance, universally reveals God’s existence, a view echoed by Martin Luther, who warned against astrology.
He argued,
“Believing in stars and entrusting one’s fate to them is idolatry and a violation of the First Commandment.”
Humans sin against God when they fail to acknowledge Him properly and instead seek to manipulate Him or look upon Him only indirectly.
Conclusion: Humanity’s Inherent Connection to the Divine
Ultimately, Calvin’s teachings remind us that humanity is inherently attuned to the divine.
The marks of God’s majesty are not only imprinted on us internally but also manifested in the vast and beautiful universe around us, compelling us to acknowledge His presence and power.
