Features of the Protestant faith. Protestants - who are they?

18.10.2019

(from Latin protestantis - publicly proving) - one of the three main directions in Christianity.

Broke away from Catholicism at the time of the Reformation in the 16th century. Unites many independent movements, churches and sects (Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglican Church, Methodists, Baptists, Adventists, more than 200 movements and sects in total).

Protestantism was started by the monk Martin Luther, who taught theology at the University of the German city of Wittenberg. In 1517, to the doors of a small church of a local castle, he nailed sheets containing 95 theses, which later became world famous. In them, Luther sharply opposed the fundamental dogmas of the Roman Catholic Church. He condemned the practice of trading in indulgences - written certificates of remission of sins, denied the doctrine of the salvation of the soul through the intercession of saints, about purgatory, and expressed doubt about the special rights of the clergy. Soon Luther completely broke off his relations with Rome when in 1520 he publicly burned the papal...

Let's start with the fact that the word PROTESTANTISM does not come from the word PROTEST. It's just a coincidence in the Russian language. Protestanti zm or protest ntstvo (from lat. protestans, gen. p. protestantis - publicly proving).

Among world religions, Protestantism can be briefly described as one of the three, along with Catholicism and Orthodoxy, main directions of Christianity, which is a collection of numerous and independent Churches and denominations. We need to dwell in more detail on the question: who are Protestants from a theological point of view?

There is a lot to be said here. And we need to start with what Protestants consider the basis of their faith. This is, first of all, the Bible - the Books of Holy Scripture. It is the infallible written Word of God. It is uniquely, verbally and completely, inspired by the Holy Spirit and unerringly recorded in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the highest and final authority on all matters it deals with.

In addition to the Bible, Protestants...

Protestantism. Brief information

Protestantism (from Latin protestatio, onis f - proclamation, assurance; in some cases - objection, disagreement) is a set of denominations based on attempts to independently understand the Bible and honor Christ, outside His Church, using its experience (including and her Holy Scripture) according to her own understanding. Protestantism arose during the schism in Catholicism during the Reformation of the 16th century. The founders of Protestant teaching were: Martin Luther, J. Calvin, W. Zwingli, F. Melanchthon.

Protestantism is very heterogeneous and includes thousands of directions. In general, he still shares common Christian dogmatic ideas about the Trinity Consubstantiality, the God-Man Jesus Christ (Incarnation, Atonement, Resurrection), the immortality of the soul, heaven and hell (while rejecting the Catholic teaching about purgatory), Last Judgment etc. At the same time, Protestantism revises the doctrine of the Church, which is what it consists of...

Culture was somewhat deceitful when it gave us the word Protestants instead of Reformed. Probably because this word was reserved for the followers of Zwingli and Calvin. Well, that's how it happened.

So Protestants do not “protest”, although there was one historical moment, associated with the Lutherans, that’s where it all went from there. Just as the Eastern Church began to be called orthodox (Orthodox), although who of their churches does not think so about themselves? And Lutherans even have the theological concept of an orthodox church, regardless of the name. And why not develop it, although the head could be cut off, but not 100%?

The essence of the reformation, or reform of the church, was the cleansing of faith and liturgical practice from false and pagan layers picked up by the Church over millennia of development.

The ideological roots of the Reformation are European humanism. Humanists, fascinated by antiquities, paid attention to ancient languages - ancient Greek and Hebrew. Ancient languages and their study gradually dispelled the myth of “dogmatism”...

How do Protestants differ from Orthodox Christians?

The traditional date of the “birth” of Protestantism is considered to be October 31, 1517, when the German priest Martin Luther nailed 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church of Wittenberg, the Saxon capital, in which he outlined his disagreement with the tenets of Catholicism. These theses became the basis of Lutheranism - the first major movement in Protestantism. Later, Luther found imitators who believed that their way of honoring God would be more faithful - this is how the teachings of Jacques Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli, and later some others, appeared. Well, let’s look at how Protestants differ from Orthodox and Catholics below.

From the history of Protestant teachings

The first shoots of Protestantism emerged in the 12th century. These were the religious communities of the Waldensians and Albigensians. Later, Lollards and followers of the Czech reformer Jan Hus appeared - the Hussites. All of them came into sharp conflict with the Catholic Church and were destroyed...

Features of Protestantism, main directions

The basis of Protestantism is M. Luther’s concept of “Justification by faith alone.” This means that every Christian's connection with God can be achieved directly by personal faith in the redemptive role of Jesus Christ. Thus, Protestant doctrine establishes that for salvation the mediation of the church between man and God is not necessary. Protestants see the church as a community of “justified by faith” people who are equally endowed with grace. Hence the absence of division into priests and laity in Protestantism. Each member of the church, by virtue of his faith, has the right to perform divine services, preach sermons, read and interpret the Bible.

The only source of doctrine, the holy book of Protestants is the Bible, and therefore the decrees of church councils, the works of the Fathers of the Church, etc. do not have sacred status. However, reading such sources is not prohibited and is considered...

Today there is a return to spirituality. All more people thinks about the intangible component of our life. In the article we will talk about who Protestants are. This is a separate direction of Christianity, or a sect, as some believe.

We will also touch on the issue of different trends in Protestantism. Information about the position of supporters of this movement in modern Russia.
Read on and you will find out the answers to these and many other questions.

Who are Protestants

In the sixteenth century Western Europe There was a separation of a significant part of believers from the Roman Catholic Church. This event in historiography is called “reformation”. Thus, Protestants are a part of Christians who disagree with Catholic principles of worship and some issues of theology.

The word “Protestantism” itself comes from the Latin “protestans”, which translates as “publicly proving.” This Christian faith is famous for its liberality. According to its ideologists, a person should look for the meaning of his existence not only in prayers, but also in serving the world around him - and do it in the way he sees fit.

History of the schism

The Protestant movement took root in the 16th century during the reformation of the Catholic Church. The first ideologists of Protestantism felt that Catholicism paid too much attention to the observance of dogma, while at the same time forgetting about the living, original spirit of Christianity. In 1517, Martin Luther nailed papers to the church doors with theses in which he condemned the trade in indulgences and called for reform of the church rules. This gave impetus to the formation of the Protestant movement in Europe.

Today, there are many independent movements within Protestantism - from Lutheranism to...

The emergence of Protestantism

Protestantism is the third type of Christianity after Orthodoxy and Catholicism, which arose as a result of the Reformation - a broad religious and political movement that began in Germany, spread throughout Western Europe and aimed at transforming the Christian Church.

The term "Protestantism" comes from a protest declared by German princes and a number of imperial cities against the repeal of an earlier ruling on the right of local rulers to choose a faith for themselves and their subjects. However, in more in a broad sense Protestantism is associated with the socio-political and moral protest of the rising, but still powerless third estate against the outdated medieval orders and the Catholic Church standing guard over them.

See also: Reformation, Counter-Reformation.

Protestant creed

The difference between Protestantism and Orthodoxy and Catholicism

Protestants share common Christian...

The dogmas of Protestantism were set out by 16th century theologians M. Luther, J. Calvin, and W. Zwingli. One of the main dogmatic provisions that distinguishes Protestantism from Catholicism and Orthodoxy is the doctrine of the direct “connection” of man with God. “Divine grace” is given to man directly by God, without the mediation of the church or clergy, and man’s salvation is achieved only through his personal faith (the principle of “justification by faith”) in the atoning sacrifice of Christ and according to the will of God. Therefore, in Protestantism (with the exception of Anglicanism) there is no fundamental opposition between the clergy and the laity, and every believer has the right to interpret and present the “word of God” - the principle of the “priesthood” of all believers. This justified the Protestants’ rejection of the church hierarchy characteristic of Catholicism and the non-recognition of the Pope as its head, opening the way to the demands of democratic freedoms and the development of individualism, to the creation of national churches independent of the papacy. According to…

PROTESTANTISM: WHAT WAS IT? FROM PAN-EUROPEAN CONTEXT TO UKRAINIAN REALITIES

Protestantism, Protestantism (English), is one of the 3 main, along with Catholicism and Orthodoxy, movements in Christianity, covering numerous religious practices and beliefs that go back to the ideological and religious movement of the Reformation, which unfolded in Europe in the 16th century. Initially, the concept of “Protestantism” was associated with a statement (protestatio lat.) dated April 19, 1529, with which the German princes (6 electors) and the imperial free cities (14 cities), supporting Martin Luther, opposed the resolution of the II Speyer Reichstag (March 1 - April 25, 1579) on the universal restoration of Catholic worship, declaring that in matters of faith and conscience it is impossible to obey the decision of the majority. Subsequently, all those who disobeyed the Vatican began to be called Protestants.

Protestantism is one of the movements in Christianity, along with Orthodoxy and Catholicism, that arose...

Protestantism

Dictionary “What is what in world politics”

Protestantism

Protestantism is the youngest direction in Christianity, born in the wake of the widespread anti-Catholic movement in Europe in the 16th century. Its roots lie in primitive and especially medieval Christianity, where it had famous predecessors - the Waldenses in France in the 12th century, the Lollards, the Hussites (followers of the Czech Jan Hus, who were the first to refuse to recognize the supremacy of the pope back in the 15th century) and Anglicanism (more often referred to as semi-Protestantism, since it coincides with Catholicism in almost everything except the recognition of the supremacy of the pope). The concept of Protestantism covers all Western denominations that do not go beyond Christian tradition, but differ from its Roman Catholic version, all who came out of obedience to the Pope in the course and as a result of the spiritual upheaval in the West, known as the Reformation. During this movement, the new form of religion almost immediately divided into...

The concept of “Protestantism” refers to Christian churches, the emergence of which is associated with the process of the Reformation. From the beginning of the 16th century to the present, about two thousand varieties of Protestant churches have emerged, adapted to the conditions of specific countries and regions.

The main reason for the emergence of Protestantism was the development of bourgeois relations in Western Europe. Catholicism, which defended feudal hierarchical structures, was seen as an obstacle to the formation of new public relations, as a result of which the Reformation was directed primarily against the Roman Catholic Church.

Protestantism also arose as a result of the formation of specific trends in socio-religious thought, which began to take shape in Catholicism. Many thinkers of that time opposed the political dominance of the papacy in life European countries, as well as demanding reform of the Catholic Church itself.

Two Catholic reformers - the Englishman John Wycliffe...

Today there is a return to spirituality. More and more people are thinking about the intangible component of our lives. In the article we will talk about whether this is a separate direction of Christianity, or a sect, as some believe.

We will also touch on the issue of different trends in Protestantism. Information about the situation of supporters of this movement in modern Russia will be of interest.
Read on and you will find out the answers to these and many other questions.

Who are Protestants

In the sixteenth century in Western Europe, a significant part of the believers separated from this event. This event in historiography is called the “reformation”. Thus, Protestants are a part of Christians who disagree with Catholic principles of worship and some issues of theology.

The Middle Ages in Western Europe turned out to be a period when society became completely dependent not so much on secular rulers as on the church.

Almost no issue was resolved without the participation of a priest, be it a wedding or everyday problems.

Weaving more and more into social life, the Catholic holy fathers accumulated untold wealth. The flashy luxury practiced by the monks turned society away from them. Dissatisfaction grew due to the fact that many issues were prohibited or resolved with the forced intervention of priests.

It was in this situation that Martin Luther had the opportunity to be heard. This is a German theologian and priest. As a member of the Augustinian order, he constantly observed the corruption of the Catholic clergy. One day, he said, he had an epiphany about true path devout Christian.

The result was the Ninety-Five Theses, which Luther nailed to the church door in Wittenberg in 1517, and a campaign against the sale of indulgences.

The basis of Protestantism is the principle of “sola fide” (only through faith). It says that no one in the world can help a person to be saved except himself. Thus, the institution of priests, the sale of indulgences, and the desire for enrichment and power on the part of church servants are rejected.

Difference from Catholics and Orthodox

Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants belong to one religion - Christianity. However, in the process of historical and social development Several splits occurred. The first was in 1054, when it separated from the Roman Catholic Church. Later, in the sixteenth century, during the Reformation, a completely separate movement appeared - Protestantism.

Let's see how different the principles are in these churches. And also why former Protestants more often convert to Orthodoxy.

So, as two fairly ancient movements, Catholics and Orthodox believe that their church is true. Protestants have diverse views. Some movements even deny the need to belong to any religion.

Among Orthodox priests allowed to marry once, monks are prohibited from marrying. Among Catholics of the Latin tradition, everyone takes a vow of celibacy. Protestants are allowed to marry; they do not recognize celibacy at all.

Also, the latter have absolutely no institution of monasticism, unlike the first two directions.

In addition, Protestants do not touch upon the issue of “filioque,” which is the cornerstone of the dispute between Catholics and Orthodox. They also do not have purgatory, and the Virgin Mary is perceived as the standard of the perfect woman.

Of the seven generally accepted sacraments, Protestants recognize only baptism and communion. There is no confession and the worship of icons is not accepted.

Protestantism in Russia

Although it is the Russian Federation, other faiths are also common here. In particular, there are Catholics and Protestants, Jews and Buddhists, supporters of various spiritual movements and philosophical worldviews.

According to statistics, there are about three million Protestants in Russia who attend more than ten thousand parishes. Of these communities, less than half are officially registered with the Ministry of Justice.

Pentecostals are considered the largest movement in Russian Protestantism. They and their reformed offshoot (neo-Pentecostals) have over one and a half million followers.

However, over time, some convert to the traditional Russian faith. Friends and acquaintances tell Protestants about Orthodoxy, sometimes they read specialized literature. Judging by the reviews of those who “returned to the fold” of their native church, they feel relieved, having ceased to be mistaken.

To other currents common in the territory Russian Federation, include Seventh-day Adventists, Baptists, Minnonites, Lutherans, Evangelical Christians, Methodists and many others.

Calvinists

The most rational Protestants are Calvinists. This direction formed in the mid-sixteenth century in Switzerland. The young French preacher and theologian, John Calvin, decided to continue and deepen the reform ideas of Martin Luther.

He declared that not only should things be removed from churches that were contrary to the Holy Scriptures, but also those things that were not even mentioned in the Bible. That is, according to Calvinism, the house of prayer should contain only what is prescribed in the holy book.

Thus, there are some differences in doctrine held by Protestants and Orthodox Christians. The first consider any gathering of people in the name of the Lord to be a church; they deny most saints, Christian symbols and the Mother of God.

In addition, they believe that a person accepts faith personally and through sober judgment. Therefore, the rite of baptism occurs only in adulthood.

The Orthodox are the complete opposite of Protestants in the above-mentioned points. In addition, they adhere to the belief that the Bible can only be interpreted by a specially trained person. Protestants believe that everyone does this to the best of their abilities and spiritual development.

Lutherans

In fact, Lutherans are the continuators of the true aspirations of Martin Luther. It was after their performance in the city of Speyer that the movement began to be called the “Protestant Church.”

The term "Lutherans" appeared in the sixteenth century during the polemics of Catholic theologians and priests with Luther. This is how they called the followers of the father of the Reformation in a derogatory manner. Lutherans call themselves “Evangelical Christians.”

Thus, Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians strive to achieve the salvation of their souls, but each has different methods. The differences, in principle, are based only on the interpretation of Holy Scripture.

With his Ninety-Five Theses, Martin Luther proved the inconsistency of the entire institution of priests and many of the traditions that Catholics adhere to. According to him, these innovations relate more to the material and secular sphere of life than to the spiritual. This means they should be abandoned.

In addition, Lutheranism is based on the belief that Jesus Christ, with his death on Calvary, atoned for all the sins of mankind, including the original sins. Everything you need for happy life, is to believe this good news.

Lutherans are also of the opinion that any priest is the same layman, but more professional in terms of preaching. Therefore, a chalice is used to give communion to all people.

Today, more than eighty-five million people are Lutherans. But they do not represent unity. There are separate associations and denominations based on historical and geographical principles.

In the Russian Federation, the most popular in this environment is the Lutheran Hour Ministry society.

Baptists

It is often jokingly said that Baptists are English Protestants. But there is also a grain of truth in this statement. After all, this movement emerged precisely from among the Puritans of Great Britain.

In fact, Baptistism is the next stage of development (as some believe) or simply an offshoot of Calvinism. The term itself comes from the ancient Greek word for baptism. It is in the name that the main idea of this direction is expressed.

Baptists believe that only a person who, in adulthood, came to the idea of renouncing sinful actions and sincerely accepted faith into his heart can be considered a true believer.

Many Protestants in Russia agree with similar thoughts. Despite the fact that the majority are Pentecostals, which we will talk about later, some of their views completely coincide.

To briefly express the basics of the practice of church life, Protestant Baptists are confident in the inerrancy of the authority of the Bible in all situations. They adhere to the ideas of a universal priesthood and congregation, that is, each community is independent and independent.

The presbyter does not have any real power, he simply reads sermons and teachings. All issues are resolved at general meetings and church councils. The service includes a sermon, singing hymns to the accompaniment of instrumental music, as well as impromptu prayers.

Today in Russia Baptists, like Adventists, call themselves evangelical Christians, and their churches - houses of prayer.

Pentecostals

The most numerous Protestants in Russia are Pentecostals. This current entered our country from Western Europe through Finland at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The first Pentecostal, or, as he was then called, “Oneness,” was Thomas Barratt. He came in 1911 from Norway to St. Petersburg. Here the preacher declared himself a follower of evangelical Christians in the apostolic spirit, and began to rebaptize everyone.

The basis of Pentecostal faith and practice is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They also recognize the rite of passage with the help of water. But the experiences that a person experiences when the Spirit descends on him are considered by this Protestant movement to be the most correct. They say that the state that the baptized person experiences is equivalent to the feelings of the apostles who received initiation from Jesus Christ himself on the fiftieth day after his resurrection.

Therefore, they name their church in honor of the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, or Trinity (Pentecost). Followers believe that the initiate in this way receives one of the Divine gifts. He gains the word of wisdom, healing, miracles, prophecy, the ability to speak foreign languages or discern spirits.

In the Russian Federation today, three of the Pentecostals are considered the most influential Protestant associations. They are part of the Assembly of God.

Mennonites

Mennoniteism is one of the most interesting branches of Protestantism. These Protestant Christians were the first to proclaim pacifism as part of their creed.
The denomination arose in the thirties of the sixteenth century in the Netherlands.

Menno Simons is considered the founder. Initially, he abandoned Catholicism and adopted the principles of Anabaptism. But after some time he significantly deepened certain features of this doctrine.

So, Mennonites believe that the kingdom of God on earth will come only with the assistance of all people, when they establish a common true church. The Bible is the unquestioned authority, and the Trinity is the only thing that has holiness. Only adults can be baptized after they have made a firm and sincere decision.

But the most important distinctive feature Mennonites are considered a refusal military service, army oath and litigation. In this way, supporters of this movement bring to humanity the desire for peace and non-violence.

The Protestant denomination came to the Russian Empire during the reign of Catherine the Great. Then she invited part of the community to move from the Baltic states to Novorossia, the Volga region and the Caucasus. This turn of events was simply a gift for the Mennonites, as they were persecuted in Western Europe. Therefore, there were two waves of forced migration to the east.

Today in the Russian Federation this movement has actually united with the Baptists.

Adventists

Like any devout Christian, a Protestant believes in the second coming of the Messiah. It was on this event that the Adventist philosophy (from the Latin word “advent”) was originally built.

In 1831 former captain United States Army Miller became a Baptist and later published a book about the certain coming of Jesus Christ on March 21, 1843. But it turned out that no one showed up. Then an adjustment was made for the inaccuracy of the translation, and the Messiah was expected in the spring of 1844. When the second time did not come true, a period of depression began among believers, which in historiography is called the “Great Disappointment.”

After this, the Millerite movement splits into a number of separate denominations. Seventh-day Adventists are considered the most organized and popular. They are centrally managed and strategically developed in several countries.

IN Russian Empire this movement appeared through the Mennonites. The first communities were formed on the Crimean Peninsula and the Volga region.

Because of their refusal to take up arms and take the oath, they were persecuted in the Soviet Union. But at the end of the seventies of the twentieth century there was a restoration of the movement. And in 1990, at the first congress of Adventists, the Russian Union was adopted.

Protestants or sectarians

Today there is no doubt that Protestants are one of the equal branches of Christianity, with their own creed, principles, principles of behavior and worship.

However, there are some churches that are very similar in organization to Protestants, but, in fact, are not. The latter, for example, include Jehovah's Witnesses.

But in view of the confusion and uncertainty of their teaching, as well as the contradiction of early statements with later ones, this movement cannot be unambiguously attributed to any direction.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not perceive Christ, the Trinity, the cross, or icons. They consider the main and only God, whom they call Jehovah, like the medieval mystics. Some of their provisions echo Protestant ones. But such a coincidence does not make them supporters of this Christian movement.

Thus, in this article we have figured out who Protestants are, and also talked about the situation of different branches in Russia.

Good luck to you, dear readers!

a set of a number of independent and diverse Christian churches and sects that arose in the 16th century in Western Europe in connection with the Reformation - an anti-Catholic movement. The main forms of Protestantism: Lutheranism, Anabaptism, Calvinism, the Church of England (see).

Excellent definition

Incomplete definition ↓

PROTESTANTISM

from lat. protestantis - publicly proving) is one of the three main directions in Christianity.

Protestantism was started by the monk Martin Luther, who taught theology at the University of the German city of Wittenberg. In 1517, to the doors of a small church of a local castle, he nailed sheets containing 95 theses, which later became world famous. In them, Luther sharply opposed the fundamental dogmas of the Roman Catholic Church. He condemned the practice of trading in indulgences - written certificates of remission of sins, denied the doctrine of the salvation of the soul through the intercession of saints, about purgatory, and expressed doubt about the special rights of the clergy. Luther soon severed his relations with Rome altogether when, in 1520, he publicly burned the papal letter excommunicating him.

The movement started by Luther was called the Reformation. And the response of the Catholic Church is counter-reformation. During the religious wars and persecution of heretics (burning at the stake was practiced by both Catholics and Protestants), a quarter of the population of Europe died. Some countries have lost more than half their population.

Protestantism, according to many researchers (M. Weber, W. Sombart, etc.), played decisive role in the formation of capitalism, which spread in the Netherlands, England, parts of the German states, Scandinavia and later in North America. Protestantism arose in an era when the economic and political interests of the increasingly powerful bourgeois class required a certain ideological sanction, which in those conditions could not be expressed other than in the form of a religious doctrine.

Protestants reject all rituals, with the exception of two - baptism and communion. And even those are sent exclusively as a symbolic “memory” of the Baptism of the Savior in the Jordan and the Last Supper and do not carry sacred meaning, as during Baptism and the Eucharist among Orthodox and Catholics. If the latter recognize 2 sources of Divine Revelation - the Holy Scriptures, that is, the Old and New Testament(Bible) and Holy Tradition (the living history of the Christian Church, expressed in patristics - the works of its holy fathers, the decrees of the seven Ecumenical Councils and the lives of saints), then Protestants deny the latter and appeal exclusively to the Bible, which was actually formed by the Church, the Holy Fathers and so on, that is, those whom Protestants reject.

Luther and his followers were convinced that not only a priest, but any Christian had the right to absolve himself of his sins. Every believer, in their opinion, has the right to read and independently interpret the Bible. Therefore due to different interpretations and it appeared huge amount Protestant sects, each with its own vision of Scripture.

The basis of Protestant doctrine is the principle of “justification by faith.” No other deeds - neither prayer for the dead, nor worship of the saints and the Mother of God, nor charitable assistance those in need, nor others good deeds are not able to save a person and prepare him for the Kingdom of Heaven. The main condition of salvation for all Protestants of absolutely all denominations, churches and movements (there are at least 200 of them in the world) is the recognition of the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal Savior. The saving role of the Church, the community, the council is denied.

Protestantism is characterized by a simplified cult, the absence of monasticism, and celibacy. In almost all Protestant denominations, the principle of universal priesthood is widespread, when theoretically any parishioner or member of the community can become an elder or preacher. In fact, this turned out to be the fact that, as a rule, they became the most respected citizens, due to their wealth, and all affairs in this congregation were done exclusively in favor of the rich elite of the community. It is not surprising that the new, reformed creed was attractive to the bourgeoisie, since it ideally substantiated their claims to economic and political dominance.

Protestantism became the banner of the great bourgeois revolutions in Northern Europe- in the Netherlands in the 16th century, in England in the 17th century. He also determined the fate of the former English colonies in North America, which in the 18th century. declared independence from the British Empire and formed the United States.

Lutheranism dominates in Northern Europe and Germany. Having declared a break with Catholicism, it nevertheless retained some common features with it. This is manifested both in theology and in liturgical practice. Evangelical Lutherans have an episcopate and ordination. Although there are no icons in their churches, there is a crucifix, an altar, and the priests dress in special attire. Choral singing and organ music are used during services.

Anglicanism in Great Britain spread through the initiative ruling circles. Parliament, by an act of 1534, declared King Henry VIII to be the head of a church independent of the papal throne. All monasteries in the country were closed, and their property was confiscated in favor of the treasury. In teaching Church of England Lutheranism, Calvinism and Catholicism are combined. It has preserved the church hierarchy and magnificent cult - the Archbishop of Canterbury is considered the primate of the Anglicans. Anglicans have their own dioceses in Scotland, Ireland, USA, Canada, and New Zealand. From the middle of the 19th century. The Lambeth Conference, an advisory body of all Anglican churches, meets.

In Calvinism, unlike Lutheranism, there is no formula for the Creed, although the theological system is brought into order. It is dominated by the doctrine of predestination, inspired by the Old Testament. According to it, the Lord chose some to eternal bliss in heaven, others to destruction in hell. But the one who is predestined for paradise must justify this destiny with his earthly life and show initiative. Destiny for salvation is manifested in purely material things - business success and wealth. In order to achieve life goals, a believer must renounce extravagance and worldly temptations.

In Geneva, where the priest John Calvin (1509–1564) fled from France, where the persecution of the reformers began, he managed to embody the social ideal to the maximum extent Protestant Church. It was completely removed from the jurisdiction of the city authorities and received the right of self-government. It was led by elders and preachers, elected, as a rule, from among the wealthiest citizens of Geneva.

From his supporters, Calvin demanded exceptional moderation in everyday life. He was convinced: a person should earn money not in order to spend it thoughtlessly. Therefore, in Geneva the number of days off was reduced, entertainment and holidays were cancelled. Calvin introduced the strictest censorship - it was he who initiated the execution in 1553 of the Spanish freethinker scientist Miguel Servetus at the stake.

It was Calvinism that formulated the religious justification for the expansion of the English Puritans into North America, which laid the foundation for the future state - the United States.

The Calvinist Puritans believed that their migration to New World- the embodiment of the divine mission. In the minds of emigrants, resettlement to America was perceived as an Exodus of Jews from Egypt, sanctioned from above. The natives, as well as the poor, losers and others not marked by “God’s grace,” evoke disgusting disdain among Calvinists.

The fate of the inhabitants of the colonies of Catholic Spaniards and Protestant Englishmen was different. The Spaniards preserved the Indians, baptized them, and mixed with them. Protestants considered them animals and simply destroyed them by the millions. The idea of superiority, the Calvinist interpretation of its mission and role as an instrument of God are expressed in the doctrine of “predestined destiny” formulated in 1845 by J. O’Sullivan, according to which Americans are God’s chosen people who should become the world’s arbiter in matters of freedom, democracy and human rights. It was this that became the ideological basis of Atlantic globalism and the “new world order.”

“The conviction that we were God's chosen people and had a divine mandate to spread our noble democratic institutions throughout the rest of the dark world,” writes the modern American historian T. Beilin, “encouraged us to bear the burden white man. We Americans continue to believe that we are a powerful nation not primarily because we were endowed with miraculous natural resources, but because there was something innate in our genes that gave us the opportunity to become great.”

Modern Calvinism is represented by Presbyterian, Reformed and Congregational and Methodist churches, whose parishioners live in the USA, Switzerland, Holland, Scotland, Germany, and England. There are a small number of reformists on the territory of Western Ukraine.

Among other Protestant denominations, the most numerous are the Methodists (by the way, the Bush family belongs to them), which spun off from the Anglican Church in 1791, the Mennonites (the founder of the sect was the Dutch preacher Menno Simons) and the Baptists. It was from the Mennonites that the latter borrowed the rule of adult baptism.

The emergence of Baptistism dates back to the beginning of the 17th century, but only to end of the 19th century V. it has spread throughout the world. Currently, it is the most widespread Protestant denomination, with many followers in Russia.

Other Protestant movements are Adventists and Pentecostals. A special position is occupied by Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons, who call themselves Christians, but whose views do not at all coincide with the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

In the 19th–20th centuries. Representatives of a number of directions of Protestantism typically strived for a rationalistic interpretation of the Bible and preached “religion without God” (that is, only as a moral teaching).

Protestant churches play main role in the ecumenical movement. Today, Protestantism is widespread mainly in the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Latvia, and Estonia.

The total number of adherents of Protestantism is about 325 million people.

Excellent definition

Incomplete definition ↓

It arose as a result of a broad religious and political movement that began in Germany, spread throughout Western Europe and aimed at transforming the Christian Church.

The term "Protestantism" comes from a protest declared by German princes and a number of imperial cities against the repeal of an earlier ruling on the right of local rulers to choose a faith for themselves and their subjects. However, in a broader sense, Protestantism is associated with the socio-political and moral protest of the rising, but still powerless third estate against the outdated medieval orders and those standing guard over them.

Protestant creed

The difference between Protestantism and Orthodoxy and Catholicism

Protestants share common Christian ideas about the existence of God as the Creator of the world, about his trinity, about the sinfulness of man, about the immortality of the soul and salvation, about heaven and hell, rejecting the Catholic teaching about purgatory, about Divine revelation and some others. At the same time, Protestantism has a number of significant dogmatic, organizational and cult differences from Orthodoxy and Catholicism. First of all, this is the recognition of the priesthood of all believers. Protestants believe that every person is directly connected to God. This leads to the rejection of the division of people into clergy and laity and the affirmation of the equality of all believers in matters of faith. Every believer, with a good knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, can be a priest for himself and other people. Thus, the clergy should not have any advantages and its very existence becomes unnecessary. In connection with these ideas, the religious cult in Protestantism was significantly reduced and simplified. The number of sacraments has been reduced to two: baptism and communion; all worship is reduced to the reading of sermons, joint prayers and the singing of hymns and psalms. In this case, the service takes place in the native language of the believers.

Almost all the external attributes of the cult: temples, icons, statues, bells, candles - were discarded, as well as the hierarchical structure of the church. Monasticism and celibacy were abolished, and the position of priest became elective. Services in Protestantism usually take place in modest houses of worship. The right of church ministers to absolution was abolished, since this was considered the prerogative of God; the veneration of saints, icons, relics, and reading prayers for the dead was abolished, since these actions were recognized as pagan prejudices. The number of church holidays is reduced to a minimum.

The second basic principle Protestantism is salvation by personal faith. This principle was opposed to the Catholic principle of justification by works, according to which everyone who thirsts for salvation must do everything that the church needs, and above all contribute to its material enrichment.

Protestantism does not deny that there is no faith without good works. Good deeds are useful and necessary, but it is impossible to justify them before God; only faith makes it possible to hope for salvation. All directions of Protestantism in one form or another adhered to the doctrine of predestination: every person, even before his birth, has his fate prepared; it does not depend on prayers or activities; a person is deprived of the opportunity to change his fate by his behavior. However, on the other hand, a person could prove to himself and others by his behavior that he was destined by God's Providence for a good fate. This could apply not only to moral behavior, but also on luck in life situations, the opportunity to get rich. It is not surprising that Protestantism becomes the ideology of the most enterprising part of the bourgeoisie of the era of primitive accumulation of capital. The doctrine of predestination justified inequality of fortunes and class division of society. As the German sociologist showed Max Weber, it was the attitudes of Protestantism that contributed to the rise of the entrepreneurial spirit and its final victory over feudalism.

The third basic principle Protestantism is recognition of the exclusive authority of the Bible. Every Christian denomination recognizes the Bible as the main source of Revelation. However, the contradictions contained in the Holy Scriptures led to the fact that in Catholicism the right to interpret the Bible belonged only to priests. For this purpose it was written large number works by the fathers of the church, a large number of resolutions of church councils were adopted, collectively all this is called Holy Tradition. Protestantism deprived the church of the monopoly right to interpret the Bible, completely abandoning the interpretation of Sacred Tradition as the source of Revelation. It is not the Bible that receives its authenticity from the church, but any church organization, group of believers, or individual believer can claim the truth of the ideas they preach if they are confirmed in the Bible.

However, the very fact of the existence of a contradiction in the Holy Scriptures was not refuted by such an attitude. Criteria were required for understanding the various provisions of the Bible. In Protestantism, the point of view of the founder of one direction or another was considered the criterion, and everyone who disagreed with it was declared heretics. The persecution of heretics in Protestantism was no less than in Catholicism.

The possibility of its own interpretation of the Bible has led Protestantism to the point that it does not represent a single teaching. There are a large number of similar in spirit, but in some ways different directions and trends.

The theoretical constructions of Protestantism led to changes in religious practice, which led to a cheapening of the church and church ritual. The veneration of the biblical righteous remained unshakable, but was devoid of the elements of fetishism characteristic of the cult of saints in Catholicism. The refusal to worship visible images was based on the Old Testament Pentateuch, which considered such worship as idolatry.

Among different directions Protestantism did not have unity on issues related to cult and the external environment of churches. Lutherans preserved the crucifix, altar, candles, organ music; Calvinists rejected all this. The Mass was rejected by all branches of Protestantism. Worship services are conducted everywhere in the native language. It consists of preaching, singing prayer hymns, and reading certain chapters of the Bible.

Protestantism made some changes in the biblical canon. He recognized as apocryphal those Old Testament works that were preserved not in the Hebrew or Aramaic original, but only in the Greek translation of the Septuagint. The Catholic Church views them as deuterocanonical.

The sacraments were also revised. Lutheranism left only two of the seven sacraments - baptism and communion, and Calvinism - only baptism. At the same time, the interpretation of the sacrament as a rite during the performance of which a miracle occurs is muted in Protestantism. Lutheranism retained some element of the miraculous in the interpretation of communion, believing that during the performance of the rite the Body and Blood of Christ are actually present in the bread and wine. Calvinism considers such a presence symbolic. Some areas of Protestantism carry out baptism only in adulthood, believing that a person must consciously approach the choice of faith; others, without abandoning infant baptism, conduct an additional rite of confirmation for adolescents, as if they were undergoing a second baptism.

The current situation of Protestantism

Currently, there are up to 600 million followers of Protestantism living on all continents and in almost all countries of the world. Modern Protestantism is a vast collection (up to 2 thousand) of independent, practically unrelated churches, sects and denominations. From the very beginning of its emergence, Protestantism did not represent a single organization; its division continues to the present day. In addition to the main directions of Protestantism already discussed, others that arose later also enjoy great influence.

Main directions of Protestantism:

Quakers
Methodists
Mennonites

Quakers

The direction arose in the 17th century. in England. Founder - artisan Dmurdzh Fox declared that the truth of faith is manifested in an act of illumination " inner light" For their ecstatic methods of achieving communication with God or due to the fact that they emphasized the need to be in constant awe of God, the followers of this direction received their name (from the English. quake- "shake"). Quakers completely abandoned external rituals and clergy. Their worship consists of an internal conversation with God and preaching. Ascetic motives can be traced in the moral teachings of the Quakers; they widely practice charity. Quaker communities exist in the USA, England, Canada, and East African countries.

Methodists

The movement arose in the 18th century. as an attempt to increase the interest of the masses in religion. Its founders were brothers Wesley - John and Charles. In 1729, they founded a small circle at Oxford University, whose members were distinguished by their particular religious tenacity and methodicalness in studying the Bible and fulfilling Christian precepts. Hence the name of the direction. Special attention Methodists devoted preaching activity and its new forms: preaching under open air, in workhouses, in prisons, etc. They created an institute of so-called traveling preachers. As a result of these measures, the trend spread widely in England and its colonies. Separating from the Anglican Church, they simplified their doctrine, reducing the 39 articles of the creed to 25. They supplemented the principle of salvation by personal faith with the doctrine of good deeds. In 18V1 it was created World Methodist Council. Methodism is especially widespread in the USA, as well as Great Britain, Australia, South Korea and other countries.

Mennonites

A movement in Protestantism that arose on the basis of Anabaptism in the 16th century. in the Netherlands. Founder-Dutch preacher Menno Simone. The principles of doctrine are set out in "Declaration of the Fundamental Articles of Our Common Christian Faith." The peculiarities of this movement are that it preaches the baptism of people in adulthood, denies the church hierarchy, proclaims the equality of all members of the community, non-resistance to evil through violence, even to the point of prohibiting serving with weapons in hand; communities have independent management. An international body has been created - World Mennonite Conference, located in the USA. Largest number they live in the USA, Canada, Holland and Germany.

Today there is a return to spirituality. More and more people are thinking about the intangible component of our lives. In the article we will talk about who Protestants are. This is a separate direction of Christianity, or a sect, as some believe.

We will also touch on the issue of different trends in Protestantism. Information about the situation of supporters of this movement in modern Russia will be of interest. Read on and you will find out the answers to these and many other questions.

In the sixteenth century in Western Europe, a significant part of the believers separated from the Roman Catholic Church. This event in historiography is called “reformation”. Thus, Protestants are a part of Christians who disagree with Catholic principles of worship and some issues of theology.

The Middle Ages in Western Europe turned out to be a period when society became completely dependent not so much on secular rulers as on the church.

Almost no issue was resolved without the participation of a priest, be it a wedding or everyday problems.

Weaving more and more into social life, the Catholic holy fathers accumulated untold wealth. The flashy luxury and double standards practiced by the monks turned society away from them. Dissatisfaction grew due to the fact that many issues were prohibited or resolved with the forced intervention of priests.

It was in this situation that Martin Luther had the opportunity to be heard. This is a German theologian and priest. As a member of the Augustinian order, he constantly observed the corruption of the Catholic clergy. One day, he said, an insight came about the true path of a devout Christian.

The result was the Ninety-Five Theses, which Luther nailed to the church door in Wittenberg in 1517, and a campaign against the sale of indulgences.

Difference from Catholics and Orthodox

Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants belong to one religion - Christianity. However, several splits occurred in the process of historical and social development. The first was in 1054, when it separated from the Roman Catholic Orthodox Church. Later, in the sixteenth century, during the Reformation, a completely separate movement appeared - Protestantism.

Let's see how different the principles are in these churches. And also why former Protestants more often convert to Orthodoxy.

So, as two fairly ancient movements, Catholics and Orthodox believe that their church is true. Protestants have diverse views. Some movements even deny the need to belong to any religion.

Among Orthodox priests, it is allowed to marry once; monks are prohibited from marrying. Among Catholics of the Latin tradition, everyone takes a vow of celibacy. Protestants are allowed to marry; they do not recognize celibacy at all.

Also, the latter have absolutely no institution of monasticism, unlike the first two directions.

Of the seven generally accepted sacraments, Protestants recognize only baptism and communion. There is no confession and the worship of icons is not accepted.

Protestantism in Russia

Although the Russian Federation is an Orthodox country, other faiths are also common here. In particular, there are Catholics and Protestants, Jews and Buddhists, supporters of various spiritual movements and philosophical worldviews.

Pentecostals are considered the largest movement in Russian Protestantism. They and their reformed offshoot (neo-Pentecostals) have over one and a half million followers.

Other movements common in the Russian Federation include Seventh-day Adventists, Baptists, Minnonites, Lutherans, Evangelical Christians, Methodists and many others.

Next we will talk in more detail about the most widespread directions of Protestantism in Russia. We will also touch on some denominations that, by definition, are on the border between a sect and a Protestant church.

Calvinists

The most rational Protestants are Calvinists. This trend was formed in the mid-sixteenth century in Switzerland. The young French preacher and theologian, John Calvin, decided to continue and deepen the reform ideas of Martin Luther.

In addition, they believe that a person accepts faith personally and through sober judgment. Therefore, the rite of baptism occurs only in adulthood.

Lutherans

In addition, Lutheranism is based on the belief that Jesus Christ, with his death on Calvary, atoned for all the sins of mankind, including the original sins. All you need to live a happy life is to believe this good news.

Lutherans are also of the opinion that any priest is the same layman, but more professional in terms of preaching. Therefore, a chalice is used to give communion to all people.

Today, more than eighty-five million people are Lutherans. But they do not represent unity. There are separate associations and denominations based on historical and geographical principles.

In the Russian Federation, the most popular in this environment is the Lutheran Hour Ministry society.

Baptists

Baptists believe that only a person who, in adulthood, came to the idea of renouncing sinful actions and sincerely accepted faith into his heart can be considered a true believer.

Many Protestants in Russia agree with similar thoughts. Despite the fact that the majority are Pentecostals, which we will talk about later, some of their views completely coincide.

The presbyter does not have any real power, he simply reads sermons and teachings. All issues are resolved at general meetings and church councils. The service includes a sermon, hymns accompanied by instrumental music, and extemporaneous prayers.

Today in Russia Baptists, like Adventists, call themselves evangelical Christians, and their churches - houses of prayer.

Pentecostals

The most numerous Protestants in Russia are Pentecostals. This current entered our country from Western Europe through Finland at the beginning of the twentieth century.

In the Russian Federation today, three of the Pentecostals are considered the most influential Protestant associations. They are part of the Assembly of God.

Mennonites

Mennoniteism is one of the most interesting branches of Protestantism. These Protestant Christians were the first to proclaim pacifism as part of their creed. The denomination arose in the thirties of the sixteenth century in the Netherlands.

Menno Simons is considered the founder. Initially, he abandoned Catholicism and adopted the principles of Anabaptism. But after some time he significantly deepened certain features of this doctrine.

But the most important distinguishing feature of Mennonites is considered to be the refusal of military service, the army oath and litigation. In this way, supporters of this movement bring to humanity the desire for peace and non-violence.

Today in the Russian Federation this movement has actually united with the Baptists.

Adventists

Like any devout Christian, a Protestant believes in the second coming of the Messiah. It was on this event that the Adventist philosophy (from the Latin word “advent”) was originally built.

A former United States Army captain, Miller became a Baptist in 1831 and later published a book about the certain coming of Jesus Christ on March 21, 1843. But it turned out that no one showed up. Then an adjustment was made for the inaccuracy of the translation, and the Messiah was expected in the spring of 1844. When the second time did not come true, a period of depression began among believers, which in historiography is called the “Great Disappointment.”

In the Russian Empire, this movement appeared through the Mennonites. The first communities were formed on the Crimean Peninsula and the Volga region.

Protestants or sectarians

Today there is no doubt that Protestants are one of the equal branches of Christianity, with their own creed, principles, principles of behavior and worship.

However, there are some churches that are very similar in organization to Protestants, but, in fact, are not. The latter, for example, include Jehovah's Witnesses.

But in view of the confusion and uncertainty of their teaching, as well as the contradiction of early statements with later ones, this movement cannot be unambiguously attributed to any direction.

Thus, in this article we have figured out who Protestants are, and also talked about the situation of different branches in Russia.

Good luck to you, dear readers!