Historia ecclesiastica
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A new malady: “le Calvinite”

May 28th, 2009 Posted in Reformation

There is undoubtedly a rash of conferences on John Calvin this year (we had our own one at Southern in April), as it is the quincentenary of his birth.

The eminent French evangelical theologian and historian Sébastien Fath has noted that there is a term for this passionate interest in Calvin: “Calvinite,” which he identifies as a masculine noun in French and of which the definition runs as follows: “maladie commémorative focalisé sur tout ce qui touche à Jean Calvin. Pic épidémiologique en 2009.”

Well, there is no doubt that 2009 is the crucial year for this “illness”! Though, what a joyous illness it is!

See post here.

But how to translate the word into English? Any suggestions? Calvinomania?

HT: Jeff Walters

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5 Responses to “A new malady: “le Calvinite””

  1. Allen Mickle Says:
    May 28th, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    Calvinopathy?

  2. Jim Collins Says:
    May 28th, 2009 at 6:22 pm

    Calvinitis, but of course. J’en suis sur.

  3. Russell Phillips Says:
    May 28th, 2009 at 9:23 pm

    Calvinitis

  4. Michael Haykin Says:
    May 28th, 2009 at 9:47 pm

    Here are two good possibilities: Calvinopathy (A Mickle)–a malady affecting the passions–though this might be merely taken to be psychological.

    Calvinitis (J Collins and R Phillips): this is also very good–and seems to nicely translate the French. Though, as my sweet wife has just told me, the -itis ending indicates an inflammation of something, hence tendinitis or appendicitis.

    So: “an inflammation of Calvin.” Or, “to be inflammed with Calvin.” Yes, upon reflection, this is extremely good.

    Now the question is: Am I infected!!

  5. H Grondines Says:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 12:29 am

    You’re not!
    Because an inflammation is not the same as an infection. : )
    The question is: Are you inflammed?

    I’m surprised it was used as a masculin name though because all those other -ite are usually feminine.
    Like “une tendinite”…

    I wonder though if it’s a good thing to be too inflamed…
    I know a couple who are planning to leave a church they had just joined because that community talks too much about Calvin…
    they would like to hear more about God.
    …
    Just a reflection.
    Food for thought.

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