Olivia Valency

"Poached Eggs, Selling Empty Shells" reflects my desire to challenge the misconceptions of Calvinism. Because of John Calvin's teachings, the church I grew up in ostracized me because I married a divorced man. A few of my siblings have also shunned me because of my firm belief in free will. They adhere to Calvin's predestination-only doctrine. I'm convinced that Calvin's doctrine is the primary cause of their cruel behavior, so I became determined to confront it at its source. Growing up in a Calvinist church and attending its affiliated private school gave me a unique perspective on John Calvin and his teachings.
There are many branches of Calvinism, and each teaches it slightly differently. However, I'll share how I remember it being explained to me by my mom, the preachers, and teachers in my life. Calvin didn't use the words "fast-forward video." I use this analogy to help my readers better understand Calvin's doctrine. Through deep Bible study, I arrived at views and opinions that are opposite to those of John Calvin.
I believe that Calvin "poached his flock" and sold them "empty shells." Throughout my book, I share many Bible verses and offer a fresh and hopeful perspective on the Bible. Unlike Calvin, I portray our Heavenly Father as very loving and show how much He loves us. Ultimately, each to their own beliefs. At the very least, I hope we can all agree that love is the answer - every time.