What Is Calvinism? - by Herman Selderhuis

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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This is astounding. Completely astounding. This "explanation" of Calvinism doesn't quote or even mention the Bible. Not once, though the author does use the word "Bible" twice. 

But not only does he not tell us anything about the bible, he tells us virtually nothing about the doctrines of Calvinism, seeming to go out of his way to be bland and featureless. 

This is truly, truly, Bad Bible Teaching.

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The Term

Calvinism is a term that John Calvin did not like and one that often makes a wrong impression. It emerged as a term of insult from Lutherans trying to separate themselves emphatically from the Reformed doctrine of the Lord’s Supper. (Tell us about the Reformed doctrine of the Lord's supper, sir, and how it might differ from Calvinism. Oh, and tell us what reformed doctrine is. You won't? Oh.)

Although Calvin distanced himself from the term—just as Martin Luther protested the term Lutheran—it has nevertheless endured.

Calvinism involves much more than merely the theology of Calvin. First, there is much of Luther’s theology and Huldrych Zwingli’s theology in Calvin’s teaching, (Tell us what parts of Luther's and Zwingli's theology are in Calvin's teaching. You won't? Oh.)

and there were quite a few other theologians who contributed to what is called Calvinism, including Philip Melanchthon, Martin Bucer, and Theodore Beza. (Tell us more about this. You won't? Oh.)

It would be more accurate, then, to speak of Reformed Protestantism. (What is Reformed Protestantism, and why would that be more accurate?)

Since, however, the term Calvinism is recognizable and widely used, it is still useful.

The Theology

Essential elements of Calvinist doctrine include the sovereignty of God as demonstrated in His creative power and His providential care, (The great majority of Christians believe this.)

the authority of the Bible as the source and norm for all of life, (The great majority of Christians believe this.)

and both the sinfulness and responsibility of man. (The great majority of Christians believe this.)

Calvinism is distinguished by the abiding function of the law for the Christian life. In Calvin’s mind, the law of God as summarized in the Ten Commandments has continuing meaning and is regarded as the rule for the Christian life. (The great majority of Christians believe this.)

Combined with a focus on the person and work of the Holy Spirit, (The great majority of Christians believe this.)

Calvinism distinguishes justification and sanctification while stressing that both are vital, (The great majority of Christians believe this.)

and stresses the importance of a godly lifestyle, (The great majority of Christians believe this.)

a commitment to mercy, (The great majority of Christians believe this.)

and a continuing reflection on law and justice as evidences of the true, saving faith by which alone we are justified. (The great majority of Christians believe this.)

Culturally, Calvinism (inside the church) led to resistance to the cult of images as a threat to the proclamation of the Word and (outside the church) to an impulse for art and culture as a means of worshiping God. (Not sure exactly what this sentence means.)

The focus on the Word on the importance of knowing God (This seems grammatically strained.)

resulted in a Calvinist “culture of reading” in schools, homes, and churches, which in turn made Calvinism a home for many intellectuals over the centuries. (Self-aggrandizing.)

Calvinism’s openness to science comes from Calvin’s view that God is also revealed in creation. (The great majority of Christians believe this.) 

Scientific research contributes to the recognition of God, (The great majority of Christians believe this.)

and this view gave great impetus to academics. 

The phrase five-point Calvinism refers to the five doctrines formulated by the Reformed synod held in the Dutch city of Dordrecht (1618–19): (Hooray, our first mention of specific doctrines...)

total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints. These doctrines are encapsulated in the acronym TULIP. (So now the author is going to explain the acronym TULIP. He's not? Oh.)

The L in the acronym can be misleading, however. (Good, he's going to explain at least one of the five points. He's not? Oh.)

Christ’s work of atonement (What is atonement, and how does it work?)

was not limited at all in its power—it fully redeems all to whom it applies. (If something is restricted only to those to whom it applies, isn't it limited?)

Yet the number of people profiting from that atonement is definite, offered only for those who possess genuine saving faith—the “elect” of God. (Wait. So atonement is offered only to the Elect? If the Elect are those God has chosen to be saved, then why is anything "offered" to them? They will be profit from the atonement solely because God chose them.)

More importantly, the theology of Calvin and of Calvinism is much more than these five points. (So the author is going to explain how Calvinism is more than TULIP. He's not? Oh.)

In fact, it is not predestination that is the central theme of Calvinism; (So the author is going to explain predestination. He's not? Oh.)

it is the glory of God. (Tell us about the glory of God in the context of Calvinism. No? Oh.)

The Lifestyle

Calvinism’s views on justification, sanctification, and the practice of church discipline  (Good, we're going to find out what Calvinism teaches about justification, sanctification, and church discipline. We're not? Oh.)

have led to a way of life among Calvinists that is strongly shaped by the Bible. (The great majority of Christians believe this.

So what Bible verses shape this way of life for Calvinists? You aren't going to tell us? Oh.)

The principle of sola Scriptura (The great majority of Christians believe this.

Tell us about Sola Scriptura. You won't? Oh.)

and the function of the law (What is the function of the law according to Calvinism? You won't say? Oh.)

have resulted in a church order that stresses the importance of preaching, (The great majority of Christians believe this.)

the need for church discipline, (The great majority of Christians believe this.)

and a distinction between the civil authorities and the government of the church. (The great majority of Christians believe this.)

The understanding of the unity of Scripture results in a strong identification of the church with Old Testament Israel. (The great majority of Christians believe this.)

This identification manifests itself in a predilection for the book of Psalms both in preaching and in liturgy. (What does this sentence mean?)

The singing of these psalms further strengthened this identification, indeed, because of another characteristic of Calvinism—the pilgrimage motif. The attitude captured in the saying “this world is not our home; we’re just a passing through” reduces the influence of nationalism and materialism and stimulates an ethic of work and service. (We are beginning to think that the author is just blowing smoke. He has offered nothing but a bland, indistinct, empty explanations of his doctrines, if indeed he has explained anything at all.) 

The Spread

The spread of Calvinism in the sixteenth century may justifiably be called impressive in terms of time and scope. By 1554, there were about half a million Reformed Christians in Europe, but as early as 1600 there were approximately ten million. From the very beginning, Calvinism was strongly internationally oriented and has remained so since. Factors relating to this rapid and extensive dissemination were, above all, Calvin’s Academy in Geneva, the universities of Heidelberg and Leiden, and many other Reformed academic institutions where theologians, lawyers, and rulers from all over Europe were trained. Calvinism had a massive impact on Western society and has also affected developments in church and theology in North America, the Far East (Indonesia, South Korea, Japan) and South Africa. Calvinism has exerted great influence in the fields of sociology, politics, economics, and law. Calvin, for example, developed a theory of the biblical right to interest rate recovery, which gave trade a vital impetus. (Why is all this important?)

But Calvinism through the centuries has been influential chiefly in the church and in theology. (Abrupt ending. 

So, "what is Calvinism?" The author apparently doesn't know.)