Arminianism vs. Calvinism and Jansenism vs. Jesuitism

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Two of the most important intra-Protestant and intra-Catholic theological debates of the 17th century were that between Arminianism and Calvinism on the one hand, and Jansenism and Jesuitism on the other. Whether you are Protestant, Catholic, or neither, which side do you find more sympathetic or closer to your own views?

In the first instance I side with the Arminians. In my opinion the Calvinist view on salvation is too strict, while I find the greater leniency of the Arminians on that matter appealing. In a political context I also generally prefer Arminianism. In the affair of the Remonstrants, those who supported Arminianism were allied with the republican Dutch States Party and supported religious toleration, while the established Dutch Reformed Church chose to link itself to the cause of Orangism and the ambitions of the Stadholder. It is awful what happened to Oldenbarvenelt, but he died a martyr for the cause. Thankfully Hugo Grotius, a massive FF, was able to escape the clutches of the Stadholder.

However, I should note that politically speaking, the sides were completely reversed in England and thus so are my preferences in that country. In his attempts to forcibly impose episcopacy upon the Three Kingdoms, Archbishop Laud was lambasted by the Calvinist Puritans for being an Arminian. Totally opposite to the Netherlands, it was the Calvinists who supported a republican commonwealth and religious toleration, while the Arminians in the Anglican Church fought for absolute monarchy and religious uniformity.*

Moving on to the Catholics, I definitely prefer the Jansenists. I like the mysticism of the movement and its crypto-Protestantism, as well as its association with leading intellectuals like Blaise Pascal. I'm also inclined to sympathize with the persecuted (part of why I was always more drawn to Protestants than Catholics in the first place), and the Jansenists were definitely that in 17th and 18th century France.

As for the Jesuits, their servile loyalty to the Pope and heretic-hunting is completely anathema to me. In my opinion the Jesuit order was a deeply malevolent force on European politics, being the primary movers behind repressive Counter-Reformation policies, and I'm glad they were finally expelled from most of Europe with the coming of the Enlightenment in the 18th century. Their only saving grace is that their American missions often helped defend Natives against the greater brutality of the Spanish and Portuguese Crowns.

*For more on the politico-religious struggle between monarchy and republic and its effects on war and diplomacy, I would highly highly recommend Protestantism and Patriotism: Ideologies and the Making of English Foreign Policy, 1650-1668 by Steven Pincus (I have a PDF if anyone is interested; PM me).

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I normally don't take poison pills (your description of Jesuits lmao) but Jansenism was a famously important influence on Alessandro Manzoni

That’s not a poison pill. It’s what I think to be a fairly accurate assessment of the Jesuit order in early modern Europe. Disagree with it all you like, but provide reasons. I actually think most Catholics today would agree with me on that, just like many condemn the illicit activities of the Borgia Popes and the more violent aspects of the Crusades.

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Theologically Arminian, politically Calvinist/Theologically Jesuit, politically Jansenist (normal, insane).

Could you please elaborate?

No comment...

AMDG

I'm surprised considering your comments in the other thread.

[Wikipedia delenda est]

Theologically Arminian, politically Calvinist/Theologically Jesuit, politically Jansenist (normal, insane).

Could you please elaborate?

In a bit, yeah. I'm technically still at work.

Thanks, I'm looking forward to it.

Theologically Arminian, politically Calvinist/Theologically Jesuit, politically Jansenist (normal, insane).

Could you please elaborate?

No comment...

AMDG

I'm surprised considering your comments in the other thread.

As Nathan noted, I was Jesuit educated. I'm always going to be biased. It's not a theological or doctrinal thing at all. Though I can get into it if you want.
And I can still belt out a mean Gregorian Pater Noster

Please do, I'd appreciate it.