GREENSBORO — A theological discussion about whether God preordained certain people to salvation drew thousands of attendees to two identical breakout sessions Monday during a conference that prec edes the Southern Baptist Convention.
The issue is important to Baptists because it raises questions about the nature of evangelism — the heart of their work.
In general, Calvinists believe Jesus died for the elect, a select group. Armenians believe he died for everyone. Both strains — and in more liberal and more conservative forms of each — are traditions of Baptist history.
"We would have these debates around our kitchen table," said Mary Scott, of Waverly Baptist Church in Waverly, Va., whose congregation has been led by pastors trained under different viewpoints.
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