Talk:William Farel

Unsupported
I find that the following statement is unsupported:

"Interesting to note that as Calvin's friend, Farel was a promoter of Lutheran ideas in his youth. Today Calvinism and Lutheranism are two complete separate denominations, but Farel's relationship with both would show they had more in common than what is shown today."

More appropriate is to discuss the ideas that Farel held (or "promoted" as this other author writes) and how they fall into the matrix of Reformation-era ideas. Indeed, many of Calvin's ideas were said first by Farel. In this sense, Calvin himself was not Calvinist, but "Farelian." Farel was not the genius, nor the writer that Calvin was, so Calvin is appropriately better remembered than Farel.

Additionally, the agreements and disagreements between the Calvinist and Lutheran camps, to their very beginnings, are well-documented. Their documentation belongs in a separate article.

Also, is there any evidence that Farel was in the Lutheran circle? Please present it. If such evidence exists, I think the logical conclusion is to say that Farel was a full participant in the development of ideas during the Reformation, not that Lutheranism and Calvinism once "had more in common."

I hear that a Montreal scholar is soon publishing a book on Farel. Hopefully that publication will allow us to clear this up.

Sierravista uva 03:07, 5 March 2007 (UTC)


 * I think that Lutheranism as it is today is very different than what Luther actually believed. Since Luther was one of the first reformers, the ones that came along later such as Calvin and Feral were called Lutherans because they had similary views. Jehorn (talk) 19:46, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

There is a lot about Farel in Bruce Gordon's 2009 book, "Calvin". What this Wikipedia article as it stands does not address is Farel's iconoclasm, and his part in the burning at the stake of Servetus (p. 223 of Gordon). These really need a mention in the article for the sake of balance. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Alastair McIntosh (talk • contribs) 13:08, 15 March 2013 (UTC)

William Farel was not born in France
The town of Gap (at the time) was not in France. Who gives a toss though, shall we just overlook this? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.197.75.50 (talk) 23:34, 2 November 2015 (UTC)