Jonathan Foster

Professor Plavnieks

EUH 3142

November 12, 2016

Changing the Customs of a Populace

Throughout History, and even today, Christianity is known to be a very strict religion

especially in ones lifestyle. The Geneva Ordinances is a document that explains how the

common people should live within the community, giving very precise rules and punishment

for those who do not abide by those rules. Although Calvin ordered many acceptable policies,

many of his rules were indeed unusual. It is obvious that Calvin wanted to run his population

as Godly as possible, but in many cases he is making the people of Geneva follow these

orders as law without thinking of his populations original customs.

When Calvin first appeared at Geneva and was practically begged to stay by William

Farel, they were both in a constant battle with secular authorities. This shows that many

people of Geneva could have been accustom to different ways of worship and although some

may have been similar to Calvin, it still would have been seen as a change.

The rules of the Sermons were indeed acceptable; however the penalty for not

attending would be seen as unfair to those who are not custom to this style of worship. The

first penalty states, Those who fail in their duty of coming are to be admonished by the

guardians, both themselves and their families. The guardians are people who would come to

ones house and reprimand them for not attending the service. The following step is, If after

intimation they continue to default, they are to be fined three goats, one would be applied to

the guardians; and the other two would be applied to the poor of the parish and put into the
funds of the church for distribution according to need as it becomes known. This step would

be more crucial to ones family, simply because they are taking wealth. Calvin could have

used this as a motive to make people attended so they would not lose their possessions,

therefore making them change their common ways.

There have been numerous accounts throughout history when Christians have been

forced to convert and if they refused they are punished, or even persecuted. One could

compare that Calvin is mimicking this tactic, but rather than take their lives he will take their

wealth.

Calvin also brought punishment to those who committed superstitious actions, which

could fall under the category of Idol worship, pilgrimage, and voyage. The people who

committed these crimes would be chastised and would be brought before their lordships.

The fifth rule of that category states, In such cases, their lordships will have the right of

chastising by means of prison or otherwise, or of punishing by extraordinary fines, at their

discretion. In cases of fines, they are to apply some small portion of them to the guardians, if

the delict was notified by them. If certain people of Geneva were accustomed to practices

like these, their freedom would have been stripped. For those who would have continued their

ways, if they would be risking the chance of imprisonment and being drained of their

finances.

Another interesting trait about this Ordinance is that many of the guardians have the

ability to gain from punishable situations. The first account that was noticed was they could

receive a calf by those who refused to attend the service. The second is showed when they tip

off people of superstitious behaviour and could attain a small part of the fine. This shows that

the guardians are very crucial to the enforcement of Calvins motive.

 Calvin also attempts to be affiliated with the populations personal matters, such as

their singing/dancing, business situations, and games (gambling). People would be punished

for singing songs that were invalid, or committing certain dance moves and would be sent to

imprisonment for three days, then would have to go to church counselling. On a business

aspect he limited people to only put forth a maximum interest of 5 percent and for those who

would play games for gold or silver would be fined of five sous and loss of the sum staked.

These actions show that Calvin is indeed trying to control and convert the way of the

common people at a spiritual and personal level.

It is obvious that Calvin was attempting to make the population of Geneva as Godly

as possible, however he refused to recognise the customs of the common people. Although

many of his orders were indeed acceptable, it is safe to say many of them were also

outrageous. Due to his humanist background, one would think that he may have been able to

implement orders that could be followed by the whole population, rather than changing the

customs of the populace.