On a recent afternoon, stagehands prepared the Protestant meeting hall on the Place de la Fusterie for a musical, \u201cThe Calvin Generation,\u201d\u009d to be performed there that evening. Springtime for Calvin?<\/p>\n
Not quite. The religious reformer, best known for his doctrines about a depraved humanity and a harsh God predestining people to hell or heaven, would not dance or sing that night. But the show was one of a vast program of commemorations \u201d\u201d theater, a film festival, conferences, exhibits, even specially concocted Calvinist wines and chocolates \u201d\u201d described by some who have tasted them as somewhat bitter \u201d\u201d of the birth of John Calvin 500 years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur idea was to show Calvin so that people could see his personality in the richness of his thought and activities,\u201d\u009d said Roland Benz, 66, the Calvin Jubilee chairman, as he watched workers preparing the stage, lights and costumes.<\/p>\n