Having read a biography of John Calvin last year, I learned that the French spelling of his name is Jean Chauvin. Come to think of it, I don’t believe I ever finished that book. Well, I’m sure I’ll get around to it someday. Anyway, as that last name bounced around in my head for a few months, at some point, the word, “chauvinist” came up, up there, too.

RED FLAG!

Knowing that Calvinism isn’t all that popular in the world, I began to wonder if the epithet, “chauvinist,” was some sort of derogatory association between Calvinists and some alleged disrespect for women. The world loves to impugn general Christianity with such a fault, even though those of us in the know are aware that Christianity is the source of liberation for women in the home, the church and society.

Is to be a Calvinist to also be a chauvinist?

I finally just got around to checking the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary to see what I could see in regard to the etymology of the word “chauvinism.” Here’s what I learned:

Etymology: French chauvinisme, from Nicolas Chauvin, character noted for his excessive patriotism and devotion to Napoleon in Théodore and Hippolyte Cogniard’s play La Cocarde tricolore (1831).

Boy, was I relieved! It’s not referring to John, but Nicolas!

Whew! As if there weren’t enough bad associations with my theological persuasion! God is gracious!!!

illustration by www.ReformationArt.com.

UPDATE:

In case any of you missed it, go back up and click on the link that reads, “the source of liberation for women.” It’s incredibly awesome! I just have to point it out because it’s even more awesome than this silly post in which the link was included!