Skip to content ↓

Where Did All These Calvinists Come From? A Visual History

I don’t think anyone could have predicted that in the twenty-first century the old doctrine of Calvinism would suddenly experience a great resurgence. Yet this is exactly what has happened. The New Calvinism, or the Young, Restless, Reformed, has been highlighted in platforms as diverse as Christianity Today and TIME as one of the ideas that is changing the world today. It has been a major emphasis in publishing and has its own celebrities, conferences and organizations.

But where did this thing come from? And how did it come to prominence? Josh Byers and I have teamed up to bring you a Visual Theology infographic we’ve titled Where Did All These Calvinists Come From?: A Visual History. We highlighted some of the dominant themes in the movement and then progressed through the people, the books, the conferences, and the organizations that have made it what it is. We hope you enjoy it. [Update: There is now a Visual Theology website.]

New Calvinism Timeline
(click on the graphic above to see the full timeline; or click here for the raw file)

Note: We don’t expect that you will agree with everything we’ve chosen to include and exclude. Also, while the timeline is roughly chronological, individual events within a particular year may not be in the exact right order (so, for example, Chosen By God may have been published after Desiring God, though both were published in 1986).


  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (January 24)

    A La Carte: Who is rich and who is poor? / The new rise of stoicism / A new hymn / When your daughter becomes a mother / The fruit of kindness / How we worship / and more.

  • The Humility Project

    The Humility Project for Men

    I have lots of good memories from the various conferences I have been to through the years, but there is one that often stands out. I was one of many speakers at a counseling conference and, at some point, the speakers were invited to join together for a group activity. We were given the option:…

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (January 23)

    A La Carte: Escaping the touchscreen trap / A censorious spirit / John Piper on the best religion / The evil of envy / The men God uses / Managing email well / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (January 22)

    A La Carte: Suffering as spiritual formation / Save the humanities from the slop / Dying to give / Someone is getting played / Using gifts or burning out? / Preparing to pray / and more.

  • Robert wolgemuth

    Robert Wolgemuth Was a Kind Man

    I don’t remember the first time I met Robert Wolgemuth, but I know it was when I was much younger and just beginning to get my bearings as a writer. At the time, I was beginning to consider whether it would be useful to retain a literary agent who would represent me to publishers. I…