Abstract
This paper identifies and addresses a curious and persisting omission in the sociological literature on Calvinism, as specifically expounded in sociological journals. The omission consists in the failure of explicitly specifying or restating what originally Calvinism is from the standpoint of societal origin and framework, that is of which society it is the collective creation, on the implied assumption that this is commonly known and/or irrelevant. Whatever its reasons, the omission tends to make original--as distinguished from subsequent--Calvinism a partial mystery in respect of its specific societal genesis and setting, especially among many sociologists outside the specialty areas of the sociology of religion and historical sociology. The paper intends to correct this omission by reexamining Calvinism in its original societal type and context and its initial historical conjuncture such as a European society at a specific point of history. It aims to contribute to redressing a gap in the sociological literature and increasing the scope of the sociology of Calvinism by adding or making explicit this missing or implied, and yet sociologically relevant element.
Key words: Calvinism, Calvin, reformation, Protestantism, France, Geneva.
