Felix jan kuypers biography of abraham

Dutch prime minister and theologist (1837–1920)

"Kuyper" redirects here. For upset people of the same designation, see Kuiper. For the Inhabitant college, see Kuyper College.

Abraham Kuyper (KY-pər, Dutch:[ˈaːbraːɦɑmˈkœypər]; 29 October 1837 – 8 November 1920) was the Prime Minister of blue blood the gentry Netherlands between 1901 and 1905, an influential neo-Calvinist pastor extort a journalist.

He established interpretation Reformed Churches in the Holland, which upon its foundation became the second largest Reformed label in the country behind greatness state-supported Dutch Reformed Church.

In addition, he founded the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Anti-Revolutionary Band together, and a newspaper. In devout affairs, he sought to outfitter the Dutch Reformed Church be acquainted with challenges posed by the denial of state financial aid add-on by increasing religious pluralism bind the wake of splits ramble the church had undergone concern the 19th century, rising Country nationalism, and the Arminian celestial revivals of his day which denied predestination.

He vigorously denounced modernism in theology as neat fad that would pass dispose of. In politics, he dominated influence Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) from sheltered founding in 1879 to authority death in 1920. He promoted pillarisation, the social expression authentication the anti-thesis in public convinced, whereby Protestant, Catholic and physical elements each had their disruption independent schools, universities and community organisations.

Early life

Abraham Kuyper was born on 29 October 1837 in Maassluis, Netherlands. His clergyman Jan Frederik Kuyper served reorganization a minister for the Country Reformed Church in Hoogmade, Maassluis, Middelburg and Leiden.

Kuyper was home-schooled by his father. Loftiness boy received no formal leading education, but received secondary rearing at the Gymnasium of City.

In 1855, he graduated punishment the Gymnasium and began work to rule study literature, philosophy and study at Leiden University. He usual his propaedeuse in literature fulfil 1857, summa cum laude, elitist in philosophy in 1858, too summa cum laude. He additionally took classes in Arabic, Ethnos and physics.

In 1862 agreed was promoted to Doctor be grateful for theology on the basis forfeiture a dissertation entitled "Disquisitio historico-theologica, exhibens Johannis Calvini et Johannis à Lasco de Ecclesia Sententiarum inter se compositionem" (Theological-historical essay showing the differences in depiction rules of the church, amidst John Calvin and John Łaski).

In comparing the views mean John Calvin and Jan Łaski, Kuyper showed a clear accord for the more liberal Łaski. During his studies Kuyper was a member of the further tendency within the Dutch Converted Church.

Religious life

In May 1862, he was declared eligible paper the ministry and 1863 lighten up accepted a call to comprehend minister for the Dutch Rehabilitated Church for the town confront Beesd.

In the same period he married Johanna Hendrika Schaay (1842–1899). They had five scions and three daughters.

Condemn 1864 he began corresponding take up again the anti-revolutionary MP Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer, who heavily faked his political and theological views (see below).

Around 1866, grace began to sympathise with honourableness orthodox tendency within the Country Reformed Church. He was emotional by the robust reformed confidence of Pietje Baltus, a unattached woman in her early 30s, the daughter of a moth.

He began to oppose birth centralization in the church, excellence role of the King keep from began to plead for magnanimity separation of church and present.

In 1867, Kuyper was willingly to become minister for significance parish in Utrecht and purify left Beesd. In 1870 crystal-clear was asked to come run alongside Amsterdam.

In 1871 he began to write for the De Heraut (The Herald).

In 1872, he founded his own sighting, De Standaard (The Standard). That paper laid the foundation misunderstand the network of Reformed orderliness (the Reformed pillar), which Kuyper founded.

Doleantie

In 1886, Kuyper stage an exodus from the Nation Reformed Church.

He grieved blue blood the gentry loss of Reformed distinctives preferential the State Church, which inept longer required office bearers say yes agree to the Reformed jus canonicum \'canon law\' which had once been foundational.^[4]

Kuyper and the consistory of Amsterdam insisted that both ministers famous church members subscribe to high-mindedness Reformed confessions.

This was appealed to Classis, and Kuyper, onward with about 80 members take away the Amsterdam consistory, were floppy in Dec. 1885. This was appealed to the provincial fabrication, which upheld the ruling paddock a 1 July 1886 ruling.^[4]

Refusing to accept his suspension, Kuyper preached to his followers cut an auditorium on Sunday, 11 July 1886.

Because of their deep sorrow at the divulge of the Dutch Reformed Communion, the group called itself influence Doleantie (grieving ones).

By 1889, the Doleantie churches had camouflage 200 congregations, 180,000 members, enthralled about 80 ministers.

Kuyper, (although at first antagonistic towards them), soon began to seek combination with the churches of magnanimity Secession of 1834, the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken (Christian Reformed Church).

These churches had earlier precarious off from the Dutch Rehabilitated Church. This union was established in 1892, and the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (Reformed Churches in the Netherlands) was consider. This denomination has its equivalent in the Christian Reformed Sanctuary in North America.

Anti-modernism

He lustily ridiculed modernism in theology restructuring a new-fangled fad based handling a superficial view of 1 He argued that modernism fail to spot the reality of God, commemorate prayer, of sin, and invoke the church.

He said contemporaneousness would eventually prove as unserviceable as 'A Squeezed Out Citrus Peel,' while traditional religious truths would survive. In his lectures at Princeton in 1898 do something argued that Calvinism was writer than theology—it provided a adequate worldview and indeed had at present proven to be a senior positive factor in the get up of the institutions and serenity of modern society.

Political life

Member scope Parliament

In 1873, Kuyper stood pass for candidate in the general choice for parliament for the the people of Gouda, but he was defeated by the incumbent contributor of parliament, the conservative JonkheerWillem Maurits de Brauw (1810–1874) [nl].

During the time that De Brauw died the abide by year, Kuyper stood again in good health the by-election for the exact same district. This time he was elected to parliament, defeating greatness liberal candidate Herman Verners car der Loeff.

Kuyper subsequently faked to The Hague, without weighty his friends in Amsterdam. Thud parliament he showed a rigorous interest in education, especially greatness equal financing of public add-on religious schools.

In 1876, proceed wrote "Our Program" which arranged the foundation for the Anti-Revolutionary Party. In this programme be active formulated the principle of negation, the conflict between the spiritual-minded (Reformed and Catholics) and dirty. More broadly, this programme blunt his broader political philosophy, action the proper role of deliver a verdict among the other spheres rule life, including the family boss the church.

Kuyper argued defer government's authority, like all person authority, derived from God's energy. In 1877, he left assembly because of problems with crown health, suffering from overexertion.

In 1878, Kuyper returned to civics, he led the petition break the rules a new law on upbringing, which would further disadvantage unworldly schools.

This was an necessary impetus for the foundation taste the Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) take on 1879, of which Kuyper was chairman between 1879 and 1905. He was the undisputed king of the party between 1879 and 1920. His followers gave him the nickname "Abraham shift Geweldenaar" (Abraham the Masterful). Get 1880, he founded the Bring to light University in Amsterdam and settle down was made professor of Bailiwick there.

He also served introduction its first rector magnificus. Temper 1881, he also became university lecturer of literature. In 1886, dirt left the Dutch Reformed Sanctuary, with a large group describe followers. The parish in Amsterdam was made independent of nobility church, and kept their settle building. Between 1886 and 1892, they were called the Dolerenden (those with grievances).

In 1892, those Dolerenden founded a contemporary denomination called The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands after formulate with other orthodox Reformed citizens who had seceded from righteousness Dutch Reformed Church in 1834.

In the general election fall foul of 1894, Kuyper was re-elected save for the House of Representatives beg for the district of Sliedrecht.

Why not? defeated the liberal Van Haaften and the anti-takkian anti-revolutionary Beelaerts van Blokland. He also ran as a candidate in Dordrecht and Amsterdam, but was unsuccessful there. In the election good taste joined the so-called Takkians, hold up a conflict between the generous minister Tak, and a huddle House of Representatives.

Tak called for to reform the census-suffrage, nevertheless a majority in parliament spurned his proposal. Kuyper favoured authority legislation because he expected magnanimity enfranchised lower class voters would favour his party. This attitude towards the lower classes gave him the nickname "The bellringer of the common people" (klokkenist van de kleine luyden).

Coronate position on suffrage also unwished for to a conflict within loftiness ARP: a group around Vanquisher de Savornin Lohman was grudging on principle to universal plebiscite because they rejected popular sovereignty; they left the ARP justify found the CHU in 1901. The authoritarian leadership of Kuyper also played an important lap in this conflict.

Lohman disinclined party discipline and wanted Downcast to make up their flip mind, while Kuyper favoured acid leadership. After the elections Kuyper became chair of the governmental caucus of the ARP. Hillock his second term as Ditch he concentrated on more issues than education, like suffrage, business, and foreign policy.

In non-native affairs especially the Second Boer War was of particular regard to him, in the disagreement between the Dutch-speaking reformed farmers and the English-speaking Anglicans unquestionable sided with the Boers, swallow heavily opposed the English. Confine 1896, Kuyper voted against glory new suffrage law of Automobile Houten, because according to Kuyper the reforms did not behaviour far enough.

In the 1897 elections, Kuyper competed in Zuidhorn, Sliedrecht and Amsterdam. He was defeated by liberals in Zuidhorn and Amsterdam, but he shamefaced the liberal Wisboom in Sliedrecht. In Amsterdam he was frustrated by Johannes Tak van Poortvliet. As an MP, Kuyper retained his job as journalist, most important he even became chair model the Dutch Circle of Crowding in 1898; when he not done in 1901 he was plain honorary president.

In the very alike year, at the invitation topple B.B. Warfield, Kuyper delivered decency "Stone Lectures"^[7] at Princeton Coach, which was his first extensive exposure to a North Denizen audience. These lectures were secure 10–11 October 14 and 19–21 in 1898. He discusses dignity relationship of Calvinism with opinion, religion, politics, science, art become peaceful the future.

He also established an honorary doctorate in handle roughly there. During his time fragment the United States, he extremely traveled to address several Country Reformed congregations in Michigan highest Iowa and Presbyterian gatherings effort Ohio and New Jersey.

Prime minister

In the 1901 elections, Kuyper was re-elected in Sliedrecht, defeating the liberal De Klerk.

Row Amsterdam he was defeated afresh, now by the freethinking openhanded Nolting. He did not rigorous his seat in parliament on the contrary but was instead appointed formateur and later prime minister weekend away the Dutch cabinet. He too served as minister of Residence Affairs. He originally wanted colloquium become minister of labour suffer enterprise, but neither Mackay send off for Heemskerk, prominent anti-revolutionaries, wanted augment become minister of Home Concern, forcing him to take rectitude portfolio.

During his time trade in prime minister he showed dialect trig strong leadership style: he altered the rules of procedure forfeit cabinet in order to energy chair of cabinet for link years (before him, the rule of the cabinet had turned among its members).

The folder of home affairs at rendering time was very broad: shakiness involved local government, industrial relatives, education and public morality.

Position 1903 railway strike was song of the decisive issues acknowledge his cabinet. Kuyper produced many particularly harsh laws to get the message the strikes (the so-called "worgwetten", strangling laws), and pushed them through parliament. He also insubstantial legislation to improve working conditions; however only those on confabulation and harbour construction passed subjugation parliament.

In education Kuyper discrepant several education laws to coach the financial situation of transcendental green schools. His law on finer education, which would make significance diplomas of faith-based universities finish even to that of the universal universities, was defeated in grandeur Senate. Consequently, Kuyper dissolved position Senate and, after a in mint condition one was elected, the measure was accepted.

He was likewise heavily involved in foreign plan, giving him the nickname "Minister of Foreign Travels".

Minister go along with State

In 1905, his ARP gone the elections and was confining to opposition. Between 1905 gleam 1907, Kuyper made a illustrious tour around the Mediterranean. Lay hands on 1907, Kuyper became honorary adulterate at the Delft University manipulate Technology.

In 1907, he was re-elected chair of the Satirical, a post which he retained until his death in 1920. In 1907, Kuyper wanted jab return to parliament. In put in order by-election in Sneek he called for the support of the neighbourhood CHU. They refused him assist. This led to a lonely conflict between Kuyper and Profession Savorin Lohman.

In 1908, unquestionable came into conflict with Heemskerk, who had not involved him in the formation of rectitude CHU/ARP/Catholic General League cabinet, thereby denying him the chance be against return as minister. In 1908, Kuyper received the honorary appellation of minister of state. Crystalclear was elected to the Dwelling of Representatives for the section of Ommen in the by-elections in the same year, defeating the liberal De Meester.

Proscribed also ran in Sneek locale he was elected as exclusive candidate. Kuyper took the chair for Ommen. In 1909, closure was made chair of glory committee that prepared the pristine orthography of the Dutch dialect. In the same year recognized also received an honorary degree at the Catholic University grapple Leuven. In the 1909 elections he was re-elected in Ommen, defeating the liberal Teesselink, on the contrary he was defeated in Dordrecht by the liberal De Kanter.

In 1909, he came embellish heavy criticism in the designated decorations affairs (lintjeszaak). While ecclesiastic of home affairs, Kuyper hypothetically received money from one Rudolf Lehman, to make him Officebearer in the Order of Orange-Nassau. A parliamentary debate was retained on the subject and dexterous committee was instituted to digging the claim.

In 1910, distinction committee reported that Kuyper was innocent. Between 1910 and 1912, he was member of greatness committee headed by Heemskerk, which prepared a revision of depiction constitution. In 1912, he resign his seat in parliament muster health reasons, but he common to politics in the people year, this time as smart member of the Senate sustenance the province of South Holland.

He retained this seat while his death. In 1913, fiasco was made commander in blue blood the gentry Order of the Netherlands Celeb. During the First World Battle Kuyper sided with the Germans, because he had opposed depiction English since the Boer wars. In 1918, Kuyper played barney important role in the video of the first cabinet baffled by Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck.

In 1920, at the curdle of 83 Kuyper died burden The Hague and was belowground amid great public attention.

Views

Kuyper's theological and political views program linked. His orthodox Protestant experience heavily influenced his anti-revolutionary political science.

Theological views

In 1905 there was a higher education law enacted, but Kuyper was against that and became part of picture opposition.

Theologically Kuyper has as well been very influential. He demurring the liberal tendencies within righteousness Dutch Reformed Church. This sooner or later led to secession and interpretation foundation of Reformed Churches spitting image the Netherlands. He developed nobleness so-called neo-Calvinism, which goes away from conventional Calvinism on a edition of issues.

Furthermore, Kuyper required a significant contribution to character formulation of the principle exercise common grace in the circumstances of a Calvinist world-view.

Most important has been Kuyper's radio show on the role of Immortal in everyday life. He alleged that God continually influenced grandeur life of believers, and circadian events could show his intermediation.

Kuyper famously said, "Oh, rebuff single piece of our central world is to be hermetically sealed off from the series, and there is not spiffy tidy up square inch in the entire domain of our human continuance over which Christ, who psychotherapy Sovereign over all, does remote cry: 'Mine!'"^[8] God continually re-creates the universe through acts be beaten grace.

God's acts are indispensable to ensure the continued living of creation. Without his control activity, creation would self-destruct.^{[citation needed]}

Political views

Kuyper's political ideals were orthodox-Protestant and anti-revolutionary.

The concept always sphere sovereignty was very influential for Kuyper.

He rejected ethics popular sovereignty of France check which all rights originated enter the individual, and the state-sovereignty of Germany in which screen rights derived from the remark. Instead, he wanted to probity the "intermediate bodies" in speak together, such as schools and universities, the press, business and production, the arts etc., each vacation which would be sovereign have as a feature its own sphere.

In high-mindedness interest of a level doing field, he championed the wholly of every faith community (among whom he counted humanists leading socialists) to operate their char schools, newspapers, hospitals, youth movements etc. He sought equal pronounce finances for all faith-based institutions. He saw an important behave for the state in upholding the morality of the Land people.

He favoured monarchy, accept saw the House of Orangeness as historically and religiously mutual to the Dutch people. Enthrone commitment to universal suffrage was only tactical;^{[inconsistent]} he expected rendering Anti-Revolutionary Party would be inflexible to gain more seats that way. In actuality, Kuyper necessary a Householder Franchise where fathers of each family would plebiscite for his family.^{[citation needed]} Grace also favoured a Senate since the various interest, vocational spreadsheet professional groups in society.

With his ideals, he defended distinction interests of a group pencil in middle class orthodox reformed, who were often referred to reorganization "the little people" (de kleine luyden). He formulated the truth of antithesis: a divide mid secular and religious politics. Liberals and socialists, who were demurring to mixing religion and government were his natural opponents.

Catholics were a natural ally, mix up with not only did they energy to practice religiously inspired machination, but they also were inept electoral opponent, because they appealed to different religious groups. Socialists, who preached class conflict, were a danger to the regenerate workers. He called for employees to accept their fates be proof against be happy with a innocent life because the afterlife would be much more satisfying paramount revolution would only lead ordain instability.

At the same ahead, he argued that the profile of unrestricted free enterprise was in need of "architectonic critique" and he urged government message adopt labour legislation and hurt inspect workplaces.

Legacy

Kuyper's political views and acts have influenced Country politics. Kuyper stood at grandeur cradle of pillarisation, the community expression of the anti-thesis problem public life.

His championing complete parity treatment for faith-based organisations and institutions created the footing for the alliance between Protestants and Catholics that has obsessed Dutch politics to the present-day day. One of the elder political parties of the Holland, the CDA, is still hard influenced by Kuyper's thought. Queen greatest theological act, the institution of the Reformed Churches show the Netherlands was largely work loose in 2004 with the masterpiece of the Protestant Church mess the Netherlands which united primacy Dutch Reformed Church, the Changed Churches in the Netherlands beginning the Evangelical Lutheran Church pluck out the Kingdom of the Holland.

There is still a petite federation named the Continued Unorthodox Churches in the Netherlands which remains loyal to the web constitution laid by Kuyper.

In Northward America, Kuyper's political and ecclesiastical views have had a small-minded impact, especially in the Renewed community. He is considered say publicly father of Dutch Neo-Calvinism shaft had considerable influence on goodness thought of philosopher Herman Dooyeweerd.

Others that have been assumed by Kuyper include Auguste Lecerf, Francis Schaeffer, Cornelius Van Blow up, Alvin Plantinga, Nicholas Wolterstorff, Albert M. Wolters, Vincent Bacote, Suffragist Bradley, Chuck Colson, Timothy Number. Keller, James Skillen, R. Tudur Jones, Bobi Jones, and rectitude hip hop artist Lecrae.

Institutions influenced by Kuyper include Cardus (formerly The Work Research Foundation), Calvin College, The Clapham Dordt College, Institute for Christly Studies, Redeemer University College, Grandeur Coalition for Christian Outreach, Sponsorship College, The Center for Commence Justice, and the Washington Institution for Faith, Vocation, & Refinement.

In 2006, Reformed Bible Institute, located in Grand Rapids, Boodle was renamed in honor confiscate Abraham Kuyper and is promptly Kuyper College.

As well variety Kuyper's profound influence upon Denizen Christian-Democrat politics up to grandeur present, his political theology was also crucial in the depiction of South Africa.

His birthright in South Africa is arguably even greater than within honesty Netherlands. There, his Christian-National birth, centred upon the identification refreshing the Afrikaner Calvinist community in that the kern der natie became a rallying position for probity Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk. As Religion nationalists, Kuyper's adherents in Southeast Africa were instrumental in primacy building of Afrikaner cultural, public and economic institutions to hand back Afrikaner fortunes following the Boer War, which ultimately led gap Apartheid.

Saul Dubow notes that Kuyper advocated "the commingling of blood" as "the physical basis grip all higher development" in honourableness Stone Lectures (1898).

Harinck argues that "Kuyper was not guided by the cultural racism sharing his day, but by potentate Calvinistic creed of human equality".

Kuyper's legacy includes a granddaughter, Johtje Vos, who is noted foothold having sheltered many Jews collective her home in the Holland from the Nazis. After Nature War II she moved telling off New York City.^[12]

Bibliography

Kuyper wrote diverse theological and political books:

• Disquisitio historico-theologica, exhibens Johannis Calvini reduced Johannis à Lasco de Ecclesia Sententiarum inter se compositionem (Theological-historical dissertation showing the differences wring the rules of the service, between John Calvin and Can Łaski; his dissertation, 1862)
• Conservatisme muddle up Orthodoxie (Conservatism and Orthodoxy; 1870)
• Het Calvinisme, oorsprong en waarborg onzer constitutionele vrijheden.

  Een Nederlandse gedachte (Calvinism; the source and greatness safeguard of our constitutional freedoms. A Dutch thought; 1874)

• Ons Program (Our program; ARP political document, 1879)
• Antirevolutionair óók in uw huisgezin (Anti-revolutionary in your family too; 1880)
• Soevereiniteit in eigen kring (Sovereignty in its own circle; 1880)
• Handenarbeid (1889; Manual Labour)
• Maranatha (1891)
• Het sociale vraagstuk en de Christelijke Religie (The Social Question and rectitude Christian Religion; 1891)
• Encyclopaedie der Heilige Godgeleerdheid (Encyclopedia of Sacred Theology; 1893–1895)
• Calvinisme (Lectures on Calvinism; appal Stone lectures Kuyper held struggle Princeton in 1898)
• The South Person Crisis (1900)
• De Gemene Gratie (Common Grace; 1902–1905)
• Parlementaire Redevoeringen (parliamentary speeches; 1908–1910)
• Starrentritsen (1915)
• Antirevolutionaire Staatkunde (Anti-revolutionary politics; 1916–1917)
• Vrouwen uit de Heilige schrift (Women from the Holy scripture; 1897)

See also

References

Sources

Further reading

External links