Protestantism: the main features of the doctrine. What is Protestantism

Let's start with the fact that the word PROTESTANTISM does not come from the word PROTEST at all. It's just a coincidence in Russian. Protestantism or Protestantism (from Latin protestans, genus n. protestantis - publicly proving).

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

A lot can be said here. And we must 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 in a unique way, verbally and completely, inspired by the Holy Spirit and unmistakably recorded in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the supreme and final authority on all matters it touches upon.

In addition to the Bible, Protestants recognize the creeds generally accepted for all Christians:

Protestant theology does not conflict with theological decisions Ecumenical Councils. The whole world knows the famous five theses of Protestantism:

1. Sola Scriptura - "Only Scripture"

“We believe, teach and confess that the only and absolute rule and standard according to which all dogmas and all teachers should be judged are only the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments”

2. Sola fide - "Only by faith"

This is the doctrine of justification by faith alone, regardless of the performance of good works and any external sacraments. Protestants do not discount good works; but they deny their significance as a source or condition for the salvation of the soul, considering them to be the inevitable fruits of faith and evidence of forgiveness.

3. Sola gratia - "Only by grace"

This is the doctrine that salvation is grace; good gift from God to man. Man cannot merit salvation or participate in any way in his salvation. Although man accepts God's salvation by faith, all glory for man's salvation is to be given to God alone.

The Bible says: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God: not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8,9).

4. Solus Christus - "Only Christ"

From the point of view of Protestants, Christ is the only mediator between God and man, and salvation is possible only through faith in Him.

Scripture states, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).

Protestants traditionally deny the mediation of the Virgin Mary and other saints in the matter of salvation, and also teach that the church hierarchy cannot be an intermediary between God and people. All believers represent the "universal priesthood" and are in equal rights and in an equal position before God.

5. Soli Deo gloria - "Only God's glory"

The Internet project "Wikipedia" very accurately defines the features of theology, which is traditionally shared by Protestants: "Scripture is proclaimed the only source of dogma. The Bible has been translated into national languages, its study and application in their own lives has become an important task for every believer. The attitude towards Holy Tradition is ambiguous - from rejection, on the one hand, to acceptance and veneration, but, in any case, with a reservation - Tradition (as well as any other doctrinal opinions, including our own) is authoritative, since it is based on Scripture , and to the extent that it is based on Scripture. It is this reservation (and not the desire to simplify and cheapen the cult) that is the key to the refusal of a number of Protestant churches and denominations from this or that doctrine or practice.

Protestants teach that original sin corrupted human nature. Therefore, a person, although he remains fully capable of good deeds, cannot be saved by his own merits, but only by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

And although Protestant theology is not exhausted by this, nevertheless, according to these signs, it is customary to single out Protestants from among other Christians.

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

He broke away from Catholicism at the entrance of the Reformation of the 16th century. It unites many independent movements, churches and sects (Lutheranism, Calvinism, the Anglican Church, Methodists, Baptists, Adventists, more than 200 directions and sects in total).

The beginning of Protestantism was laid by the monk Martin Luther, who taught theology at the University of the German city of Wittenberg. In 1517, he nailed sheets containing 95 theses to the doors of a small church in the local castle, which subsequently gained worldwide fame. In them, Luther sharply opposed the fundamental tenets of the Roman Catholic Church. He condemned the practice of selling indulgences - written testimonies of the remission of sins, denied the doctrine of the salvation of the soul through the intercession of saints, of purgatory, and expressed doubt about the special rights of the clergy. Luther soon broke off his relations with Rome altogether, 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 at all. It's just a coincidence in Russian. Protestants zm or protest ntstvo (from lat. protestans, gen. n. protestantis - publicly proving).

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

A lot can be said here. And we must 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 unmistakably recorded in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the supreme and final authority on all matters it touches upon.

Besides the Bible, Protestants...

Protestantism. Brief information

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

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

Culture was somewhat cunning, slipping us the word Protestant instead of Reformed. Probably because this word was slaughtered by the followers of Zwingli and Calvin. Well, it happened.

So the Protestants do not "protest", although there was such a historical moment associated with the Lutherans, and that's where it went. As well 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 notion of an orthodox church, regardless of the name. And why not develop, although the head could have been cut off, but not so 100%?

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

The ideological roots of the Reformation are European humanism. Humanists, carried away by antiquities, drew attention to the ancient languages ​​​​- Ancient Greek and Hebrew. The ancient languages ​​and their study gradually dispelled the myth of "dogmatism"...

How are Protestants different from Orthodox?

The traditional date of the "birth" of Protestantism is 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 stated his disagreement with the tenets of Catholicism. These theses became the basis of Lutheranism - the first major trend in Protestantism. Later Luther had imitators who thought that their way of worshiping God would be more true - this is how the teachings of Jacques Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli appeared, and later some others. Well, what is the difference between Protestants and Orthodox and Catholics, we will consider a little lower.

From the history of Protestant teachings

The first sprouts of Protestantism hatched 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 the concept of M. Luther about "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, the 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 equally endowed with grace. Hence the lack of division into priests and laity in Protestantism. Each member of the church, by virtue of his faith, has the right to worship, preach, read and interpret the Bible.

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

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 the Protestants are. This is a separate direction of Christianity, or a sect, as some believe.

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

Who are Protestants

In the sixteenth century in Western Europe there was a separation of a significant part of believers from the Roman Catholic Church. This event in historiography is called the "Reformation". Thus, Protestants are a part of Christians who do not agree with the 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 creed is famous for its liberality. According to its ideologists, a person should seek the meaning of his existence not only in prayers, but also in serving the world around - and do it in the way he sees fit.

The history of the split

The Protestant movement began to sprout as early as the 16th century during the reformation of the Catholic Church. The first ideologists of Protestantism considered that Catholicism pays 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 with theses to the church door, in which he condemned the sale of indulgences and called for a reform of the church charter. This gave impetus to the formation of the Protestant movement in Europe.

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

Rise of Protestantism

Protestantism is the third variety 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 the protest declared by the German princes and a number of imperial cities against the abolition of the early decision 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 obsolete medieval order and the Catholic Church standing guard over them.

See also: Reformation, Counter-Reformation.

Doctrine of Protestantism

The difference between Protestantism and Orthodoxy and Catholicism

Protestants share common Christian...

The dogmas of Protestantism were outlined by theologians of the 16th century M. Luther, J. Calvin, W. Zwingli. One of the main dogmatic provisions that distinguish Protestantism from Catholicism and Orthodoxy is the doctrine of the direct "connection" of man with God. “Divine grace” is bestowed on man directly by God, without the mediation of the church, the clergy, and the salvation of man is achieved only through his personal faith (the principle of “justification by faith”) in the atoning sacrifice of Christ and by 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 expound the "word of God" - the principle of the "priesthood" of all believers. This justified the refusal of the Protestants from the church hierarchy characteristic of Catholicism and the non-recognition of the Pope of Rome as its head, opened the way for the demands of democratic freedoms and the development of individualism, to the creation of national churches independent of the papacy. In accordance with…

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

Protestantism, Protestantism (eng.), - one of the 3 main, along with Catholicism and Orthodoxy, currents in Christianity, covers numerous religious practices and creeds dating back to the ideological and religious movement of the Reformation that unfolded in Europe in the 16th century. Initially, the concept of "Protestantism" was associated with a statement (protestatio lat.) of April 19, 1529, with which the German princes (6 electors) and imperial free cities (14 cities), who supported Martin Luther, opposed the decision of the Second Speyer Reichstag (March 1 - April 25, 1579) about the universal restoration of Catholic worship, stating that in matters of faith and conscience it is impossible to obey the decision of the majority. Subsequently, Protestants began to be called all those who left obedience to the Vatican.

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 trend in Christianity, born on the wave of a broad anti-Catholic movement in Europe in the 16th century. Its roots lie in the original and especially medieval Christianity, where it had famous predecessors - the Waldensians in France of 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 as early as the 15th century) and Anglicanism (more commonly referred to as semi-Protestantism, since it coincides with Catholicism in almost everything, except for the recognition of the supremacy of the pope). The concept of Protestantism covers all Western denominations that do not go beyond the Christian tradition, but differ from its Roman Catholic version, all those who went 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 new form religions almost immediately divided into ...

The concept of "Protestantism" denotes 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 arisen, 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 stood in defense of 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 - Englishman John Wycliffe ...

V modern society There are three world religions - Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. However, almost all of them have changed over time and absorbed something new. Each of the religions has several branches (the main directions of Islam, for example, are Sunnism and Shiism). The same can be said about Christianity. Everyone knows about the split into the Catholic and Orthodox churches that occurred in 1054. But in Christianity there are other directions - Protestantism (it, in turn, also has subspecies), Uniatism, Old Believers and others. Today we will look at Protestantism. In this article we will analyze such a phenomenon as the Protestant Church - what it is and what are its basic principles.

How did Protestantism originate?

In the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church began to enrich herself at the expense of parishioners (for example, she sold sacred degrees, for money she absolved sins). Moreover, the Inquisition has acquired a truly enormous scale. Of course, all these facts indicated that reform was needed in the church. Unfortunately, internal reforms failed (many reformers ended their lives at the stake), so separate confessions began to emerge in the bosom of Catholicism.

The first such denomination Lutheranism(an offshoot of Protestantism) - originated in the 16th century, the founder was Matrin Luther, who wrote 95 theses against indulgences. He was persecuted by church officials, but Catholicism still divided. This gave impetus to the development of other branches of Protestantism. Speaking of Protestantism, many do not even think about the name. But it has a root "protest". What were the people up against?

In 1521, the Roman Empire issued a decree declaring Martin Luther a heretic and forbidding the publication of his writings. In history, this decree is called the Edict of Worms. But in 1529 it was cancelled. After that, the princes of the Roman Empire came together to decide which faith to follow. Most remained in classical Catholicism, and those who protested against him were called Protestants.

How is Protestantism different from Catholicism?

So what was it that Luther and his followers proposed that sharply distinguished Protestantism from Catholicism?

• Holy Scripture is the only source of faith, the authority of the Church was not recognized;
• One cannot thoughtlessly believe in God, only labor can confirm faith;
• In Protestantism there is no divinely established hierarchy;
• In Protestantism, only two sacraments are celebrated, since the rest are considered unimportant;
• Protestants reject icons and objects of worship;
• Fasting and austerity are unimportant;
• Simplified worship, the main part of which is a sermon;
• A person of any gender can become a bishop (in Protestantism, women act on an equal footing with men).

In general, the Protestant church is much poorer than the Catholic one, virtuous work is the only way a person can prove his faith. Apparently, this is why the Protestant church has so many followers.

What other trends are there in Protestantism?

Besides Luther, J. Calvin and W. Zwingli are recognized as the founders of Protestantism. Accordingly, Lutheranism is not the only direction of this church. There are the following branches:

1. Calvinism. As the name suggests, this trend was founded by John Calvin. Calvinists consider the Bible to be the only holy book, but they also revere the works of Calvin. Sacraments and church paraphernalia are not recognized. Scholars agree that Calvinism is the most radical branch of Protestantism.
2. Anglican Church. Under Henry VIII, Protestantism was recognized as the state religion in England, and this is how Anglicanism was formed. The main teaching of the Anglicans is the work "39 Articles". The Bible is also considered the primary source of teaching. The king or queen stands at the head of the church. However, there is a hierarchy of priests, the saving role of the church is recognized (that is, there are Catholic traditions).

Thus, the three main branches of Protestantism are Lutheranism, Calvinism and Anglicanism.

Sectarian trends in the Protestant Church

Perhaps every church has its own sects, Protestantism is no exception.

1. Baptism. The sect appeared in the 17th century. The main difference from, for example, Lutheranism is that Baptists are baptized as adults and before that they must undergo a year of probation (the rite of catechiment). Baptists do not recognize objects of worship, but they adhere to the sacraments. Now the Baptist church is not considered sectarian.
2. 7th Day Adventists. In the 19th century, a sect appeared in the United States, the main purpose of which is the expectation of the Second Coming. The founder of this sect was the farmer William Miller, who, by mathematical calculations, predicted the end of the world and the Second Coming in 1844. As we know, this did not happen, but Adventists continue to believe, referring mainly to the Old Testament.
3. Pentecostals. Again, the movement originated in the United States, but it is younger - it appeared in the middle of the 20th century. The goal of Pentecostals is to revive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which the apostles received on the day of Pentecost. The focus is on the ability to speak different languages. There have been cases in the history of Pentecostals when people suddenly spoke in foreign languages. The followers of this church recognize some sacraments, original sin, the Holy Trinity.

Countries where this religion is widespread

It is worth saying that Protestantism is widespread in many countries. It attracts with its (seeming at first glance) simplicity, the absence of church sacraments and cults. After Catholicism, Protestantism is the most popular offshoot of Christianity. Largest number Protestant adherents can be found in:

• Australia;
• Angola;
• Brazil;
• Great Britain;
• Ghana;
• Germany;
• Denmark;
• Namibia;
• Norway;
• Sweden.

About 2.5 million Protestants live in Russia.

Understanding what a Protestant church is is not easy. This religion makes very serious demands on a person, its main thesis is that you need to constantly work, only then you can find salvation. Now you know a little more about this church and its differences from Catholicism. In this article, we have analyzed such a direction of Christianity as the Protestant Church, what it is and what are the main differences from other religions.

Video: Who are Protestants?

In this video Father Peter will answer the popular question who are Protestants and why they are not baptized:

Protestantism(from Latin protestatio, onis f - proclamation, assurance; in some cases - objection, disagreement) - a set of religious communities (about 20,000 denominations), each of which identifies itself with the Church of God, Christ, believes that it professes pure faith , based on the Gospel, on the teachings of the holy apostles, but in reality it is a pseudo-Christian community or sect. At the basis of the dogma of each Protestant community, as well as at the basis of the norms of worship and worship of God, lies a peculiarly interpreted divinely revealed teaching set forth in Holy Scripture, mainly in the canonical Books of the New Testament.

Protestantism was formed during the Reformation, in the XVI century. The reason for the beginning of the reform movements was the dissatisfaction of individual representatives of the Roman Catholic Church with abuses on the part of her pastor, and above all on the part of the popes. Martin Luther became the leader of the religious revolution. His plans were to partially reform the church and limit the power of the pope. Luther's first open speech against the policies of the Catholic Church was in 1517. Luther then sent the theses to his friends. They were published in January 1518. It was also previously believed that the reformer publicly and violently condemned the sale of indulgences, but he did not deny the legitimacy and effectiveness of indulgences, but only abuses in their issuance. His 71st thesis read: "Whoever speaks against the truth of papal absolutions, let him be anathematized and damned."

Other founders of Protestantism, besides Martin Luther, were J. Calvin, W. Zwingli, F. Melanchthon.

Protestantism, due to its rather free attitude to the methods and techniques of interpreting the Holy Scriptures, is very heterogeneous and includes thousands of directions, although in general, to some extent, it still shares Christian ideas about God the Trinity, consubstantial Divine Persons, the God-Man Jesus Christ (Incarnation, Atonement, Resurrection of the Son of God), about the immortality of the soul, heaven and hell, the Last Judgment, etc.

A rather sharp difference between Orthodoxy and Protestantism is seen in relation to the doctrine of the Church, and this is natural, because if the Protestants agreed with the Orthodox (or even with the Catholic) teaching, they would have no choice but to recognize their “churches” as false. In addition to the fact that Protestantism rejects the doctrine of Orthodox Church as the only true and saving, Protestants, partially or completely, deny the church hierarchy (hierarchy), the Sacraments, the authority of Sacred Tradition, on the basis of which not only the interpretation of Holy Scripture is built, but also liturgical practice, the ascetic experience of Christian ascetics, the veneration of saints and the institution of monasticism .

Five main doctrinal theses of classical Protestantism:

1. Sola Scriptura - "Only Scripture."

The Bible (Holy Scripture) is proclaimed to be the only and self-interpreted source of doctrine. Every believer has the right to interpret the Bible. However, even the first Protestant, Martin Luther, remarked: "The devil himself can quote the Bible with great benefit to himself." Evidence of the recklessness of the desire to understand the Bible only with one's own fallen mind is the ever-increasing fragmentation of Protestantism into many currents. Indeed, in ancient times, St. said in a letter to Emperor Constantine: Scripture is not in words, but in their understanding.

2. Sola fide - "Only by faith." This is the doctrine of justification by faith alone, regardless of the performance of good works and any external sacraments. Protestants deny their significance as a source of soul salvation, considering them the inevitable fruits of faith and evidence of forgiveness.

3. Sola gratia - "Only by grace."

This is the doctrine that salvation is a good gift from God to man and man himself cannot participate in his own salvation.

4. Solus Christus - "Only Christ."

Salvation is possible only through faith in Christ. Protestants deny the intercession of the Mother of God and other saints in the matter of salvation, and also teach that the church hierarchy cannot be an intermediary between God and people, believing that believers represent the "universal priesthood."

5. Soli Deo gloria - “Glory to God only”

Considering that Protestantism is not a single religious trend, but fragmented into many private ones, the above remarks apply to different Protestant communities in different ways. Thus, Lutherans and Anglicans recognize the need for hierarchy, although not in the same form as it is present in the Orthodox Church. The attitude to the sacraments in different communities is not the same: it differs both, in fact, in the attitude towards them, and in the number of recognized sacraments. Protestantism, as a rule, is alien to the veneration of holy icons and holy relics, alien to the doctrine of the appropriateness of prayers to God's saints as our intercessors. Attitude to Mother of God varies greatly depending on the doctrine accepted in one or another "church". The attitude towards personal salvation also varies greatly: from the conviction that all who believe in Christ will be saved, to the conviction that only those who are predestined for this will be saved.

Orthodoxy implies a living, active perception of Divine grace by a Christian, by virtue of which everything becomes a mysterious union of God and man, and the temple with its Sacraments is a real place for such a union. The living experience of the action of Divine grace does not allow the restriction of the Sacraments or their perverted interpretation, as well as the diminution or abolition of the veneration of saints who have acquired grace, asceticism as a way of acquiring it.

The original forms of Protestantism were Lutheranism, Zwinglianism and Calvinism, Unitarianism and Socianism, Anabaptism and Mennonism, and Anglicanism. In the future, a number of currents arose, known as late, or neo-Protestantism: Baptists, Methodists, Quakers, Adventists, Pentecostals. Currently, Protestantism is most widespread in the Scandinavian countries, the USA, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Canada, and Switzerland. The United States is rightfully considered the world center of Protestantism, where the headquarters of Baptists, Adventists and other Protestant denominations have settled. Protestant currents play a major role in the ecumenical movement.

The theology of Protestantism has gone through a number of stages in its development. This is the orthodox theology of the sixteenth century. (M. Luther, J. Calvin), non-Protestant or liberal theology of the 18th - 19th centuries. (F. Schleiermacher, E. Troelch, A. Harnack), “crisis theology” or dialectical theology that appeared after World War I (K. Barth, P. Tillich, R. Bultmann), radical or “new” theology that spread after World War II (D. Bonhoeffer).

This is one of the three main directions in Christianity (the other two are Orthodoxy and Catholicism). For Protestants, the main authority is the Bible, everyone can understand, interpret it and communicate directly with God. To save the soul, Protestants are sure, not so much good deeds are needed as.

They have no clergy (only preachers) and monasticism. The ritual of worship is simplified to sermons and joint singing. The number of church holidays is reduced to a minimum. Protestants abandoned the veneration of icons, saints, relics, prayers for the dead and the remission of sins. They deny (or recognize only baptism and communion), do without the external attributes of the service - candles, bells, special decoration of the temple.

Why don't Protestants want to be called sectarians?

The main reason is that in Russia any groups that broke away from official Orthodoxy have long been called so. Their rights were infringed in every possible way, they were persecuted, they tried to discredit them. The same was true in Soviet time. As a result, the word "sect" acquired a clear negative connotation, became a "black mark". Who would then want to be called a sectarian?

Many religious organizations have existed for a hundred or two hundred years and include tens of thousands of supporters. They are open to society, actively participate in its life and generally have a positive impact on people. It is hardly correct to label them as "sectarians". In the West, such groups are called "denominations", but this term has not yet taken root in our country.


Well, Christianity was also dangerous sect in the eyes of Jews and Romans. A group of supporters of the Prophet Muhammad fled with him to another city from ridicule and persecution. And now these are world religions!

Why did Protestantism appear?

By the end of the 15th century, the Catholic Church was in complete decline. It is mired in corruption and morally decomposed from top to bottom. Absolution of any sins was freely sold. It used to be that two popes occupied the highest throne, and each proved that he was “real”. The church did not differ from other feudal lords: it only aspired to wealth, fame, pleasures, and for this it intrigued, fought, killed and robbed.

In the meantime, society was changing, its structure, economy, human values. The printing press made the Bible accessible. Europe was shaken by wars and uprisings. The new time also needed a new faith.

People, sincere believers, saw a way out in returning to the origins of faith, cleansing it from distortions and fundamentally reforming the church. This found support: among the disenfranchised peasants, among the rulers, who sought to strengthen their power and independence from the papal throne; among enlightened people and the emerging bourgeois stratum. As a result, a new direction separated from Christianity - Protestantism.

Who are the Huguenots?

In the XVI-XVII centuries, the so-called French Protestants. In France, where positions were traditionally strong, the struggle between these two branches of Christianity turned into a series of eight (!) civil wars with huge sacrifices.

Suffice it to recall Bartholomew's Night - the massacre of thousands of Huguenots. (Even Ivan the Terrible condemned the massacre). Religion was then closely intertwined with politics - there was a struggle for the royal throne.


Later, the opposition became less acute, but the oppression of the Protestants was repeated again and again. They received equal rights with all the people only after the French Revolution (1789).

Why are there so many different groups of Protestants - Adventists, Charismatics and others? God is one...

God is one, but people are different. What is acceptable to some seems foreign and strange to others. The peoples are also very different - each has its own history, culture. Lutheranism, which arose in Germany, took root on its soil in Scandinavia. But the British have always considered themselves in everything separated from the rest of Europe. It is not surprising that they have their own church - Anglican.

In the former Protestant branches, not all people find the basis for their faith. Some believe that only adults should be baptized. Others do not recognize the immortality of the soul. Still others find it impossible to take up arms. And since there are talented leaders, people who are inclined to agree and obey, it is not surprising that more and more branches of Protestantism are appearing. Now there are more than 30 thousand of them in the world.

Were there Protestants in Orthodoxy?

Of course, there were and are. After all, everywhere and always there are enough people who are dissatisfied with life, the church, and yearn for a renewal of faith. The first Protestants to grow up on Russian soil were the Stundists in the second half of the 19th century. They continued to go to Orthodox churches, observed traditional rites, but gathered to study and discuss the Bible.


Later, other church "dissidents" appeared - Molokans, Dukhobors, Khlysty, spirit-lifers, eunuchs, Malevantsy, Subbotniks and others. The majority looked for new interpretations of the Bible, emphasized strict adherence to its commandments, and did not recognize complex Orthodox rituals. Although instead of them, others were sometimes invented, simpler.

For example, the peasant-founder of the sect of jumpers in his own way understood the words of the church song “sprinkle me with hyssop” and introduced a rite of ... sniffing at each other for “cleansing”. And hyssop is a fragrant plant, like mint.