Round 1 of ReforMadness is in the books! With votes coming through Facebook, blog comments, and e-mail, the results are in. I am pretty surprised with several of the upsets. The trends in voting are also interesting. The Southern Presbyterians (Dabney, Thornwell, and Girardeau) are gone after the first round! While most gave the edge to the Northern Presbyterians of the 19th century, Dabney almost upset Frame, but lost by a vote. Sorry to all Confederate lovers.
In a battle of contemporary Reformed authors, Michael Horton (as a 6 seed) got blown out by 11 seed RC Sproul. Though Horton is more of a scholar and academic theologian than Sproul (and his technical contributions to dogmatics will last longer than Sproul’s contributions), many appreciate Sproul’s popularizing theology as he made covenant theology well-known again in North America.
The Voetians are celebrating over the Coccians. And the Vanhoozerians are disappointed in losing out to controversial Puritan, William Ames.
This second round should prove most interesting. Calvin v Bucer and Bullinger v Knox give us contemporary Reformation duels. Gaffin seeks to take down the theologian he emulates (and translates), Geerhardus Vos, and Van Til will take down his Dutch counterpart, Abraham “Every Square Inch” Kuyper!
Berkhof and Barth face off to see which Reformed theologian had the greatest influence in 20th century Reformed systematic theology. Sproul and Frame battle for contemporary popular Reformed prominence. And finally, will the Scotsman who couldn’t get ordained in Calvary Presbytery of the PCA if he were alive today, John Murray, be able to upset J Gresham “The Warrior” Machen?
It’s round 2 of ReforMadness! Final day to vote is March 24. You may vote through e-mail (danielfwells@gmail.com), Facebook, or post a comment.
Westminster Region
1 John Calvin v 9 Martin Bucer
5 Richard Gaffin v 4 Geerhardus Vos
6 Heinrich Bullinger v 3 John Knox
7 Zacharias Ursinus v 2 Martin Luther
Heidelberg Region
1 Herman Bavinck v 8 A.A. Hodge
5 Abraham Kuyper v 4 Cornelius Van Til
11 R.C. Sproul v 3 John Frame
7 Louis Berkhof v 2 Karl Barth
Dordt Region
1 Jonathan Edwards v 8 Vern Poythress
5 John Murray v 4 J Gresham Machen
6 Herman Ridderbos v 3 Frances Turretin
7 Herman Witsius v 2 B.B. Warfield
Marburg Region
1 John Owen v 9 Gisbertus Voetius
12 William Ames v 4 Charles Hodge
11 Richard Baxter v 3 Meredith Kline
7 Sinclair Ferguson v 15 John Flavel
O Felix Culpa 
Westminster: Calvin, Vos, Knox, Luther (these were surprisingly easy to pick)
Heidelberg: Bavinck, Van Til (ARGH that was tough!), Sproul, Berkhof
Dordt: Edwards, Machen, Ridderbos, Warfield
Marburg: Owen, Hodge, Kline, Ferguson
calvin, vos, bullinger, luther. bavinck, van til, frame, berkhof. edwards, machen, turretin, warfield. owen , hodge, baxter, ferguson
Well, I missed round 1 (would’ve voted for Horton over Sproul, btw) but I’m here to make my voice heard for Round 2!
Westminster: Calvin, Vos, Knox, Luther (easy)
Heidelberg: Bavinck, Van Til, Frame, Barth (wow, very hard)
Dordt: Edwards, Machen, Ridderbos, Warfield (whew, a bit easier)
Marburg: Owen, Hodge, Kline, Ferguson (still tricky)
Hardest one for me: Kuyper v Van Til. Changed my answer a couple times.
One I feel need to explain: Berkhof v Barth. I prefer Berkhof but Barth had way bigger influence.
Weird aside: every time I read “ReforMadness” I hear it in my head as “Reefer Madness” which everyone remembers as the 1936 propaganda film that warned teens about marijuana.
Westminster Region
Calvin, Vos, Knox, Ursinus
Heidelberg Region
Bavinck, Kuyper, Sproul (easily), Berkhof (blowout)
Dordt Region
Edwards, Machen, Turretin, Warfield
Marburg Region
Owen, Hodge, Baxter, Flavel
Westminster Region
John Calvin
Geerhardus Vos
John Knox
Zacharias Ursinus
Heidelberg Region
Herman Bavinck
Cornelius Van Til
R.C. Sproul
Louis Berkhof
Dordt Region
Jonathan Edwards
John Murray
Frances Turretin
B.B. Warfield
Marburg Region
John Owen
William Ames
Richard Baxter
John Flavel
I am glad to see that you have held to the tradition of the tournament and had at least one 12 over 5 seed upset (happens EVERY year at least once). Though part of me wonders if you, like the NCAAT Selection committee, stacked at least one 5-12 matchup with a view to that 12 taking down the 5? ; )