NeoCalvinists

Neo-Calvinism is a term used for a strand of Reformed theology and reformational philosophy associated with the Dutch Kuyperian tradition. It traces its roots to Abraham Kuyper (1837–1920) and was developed further by later thinkers such as Herman Dooyeweerd and Dirk Vollenhoven. In English-language usage, it is sometimes distinguished from the popular “New Calvinism,” which refers to a more recent evangelical revival movement.

Origins and core commitments include the conviction that Christ is Lord over all areas of life, not only in the church but in culture, science, education, politics, and the arts. Neo-Calvinism emphasizes common grace—the idea that God’s favor extends to non-believers and to society at large—while arguing for a non-dualistic view of sacred and secular life. A central feature is sphere sovereignty, the claim that different domains of life (church, state, family, education, economy) are autonomous under God and should be governed by their own proper authorities. Believers are called to transform culture from within, rather than withdraw from it.

Philosophically, reformational thought (as developed by Dooyeweerd and Vollenhoven) seeks to describe reality through a created order governed by God, often critiquing secular frameworks from a Christian worldview. The movement has influenced Dutch churches, education, and higher-learning institutions, and has networks and institutes devoted to reformational philosophy and Christian social thought in North America and elsewhere.

Contemporary usage varies, and some commentators use “Neo-Calvinism” to describe broader Reformed activism or to differentiate it from recent evangelical “New Calvinism.” In scholarly contexts, however, Neo-Calvinism typically refers to the Kuyperian-reformational tradition.