Calvin, Barth, Schrader: The Depths of Depravity and the Reality of Freedom

The Reformed tradition of human depravity and freedom speaks with a multifold voice. This paper will explore three of those voices: two theologians—John Calvin, Karl Barth—and the contemporary writer and director, Paul Schrader. Though first two are theologians, and the third a filmmaker, they all are working within and with a tradition, learning from it and arguing with it (as MacIntyre argues is the nature of tradition). Through these interpreters of the Reformed tradition (one of which was of course the founder), we discover that depravity always lurks under the surface of human life, but that freedom is really possible, and ultimately assured, in Christ.