Thank you for the replies, everyone. Pilgrim and J Edwards, I read the articles you posted and they were very good. This article, http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/ashes.htm is very typical of what's out there, with an hysterical edge to it. They say things like, "Obviously Calvin had a heart that was full of hatred..." etc.
Thanks again, and I'm glad I'm better informed now :-)
Julie