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Protestant currents in Christianity. What is Protestantism

Protestantism (from lat. protestatio - solemn declaration, proclamation) is one of the three main directions of Christianity. It arose after Orthodoxy and (in the 16th century, the era of the Reformation), separated from the latter. Protestantism unites a number of independent confessions and churches.

In 1517, the Roman Catholic Church split. The starting point is considered to be the speech of the German preacher Martin Luther against indulgences and against the claims of the Catholic clergy to control the conscience of believers as an intermediary between people and God.

Main currents in Protestantism

The main currents in Protestantism:
- Lutheranism,
- Zwinglianism,
- Calvinism,
- Anabaptism,
- Mennonism
- Anglicanism,
- Evangelical Christianity
- baptism,
- adventism,
- methodism,
- Quakerism,
- Pentecostalism
- The Salvation Army and others.

The confessional basis of Protestantism

The confessional basis of Protestantism includes the Holy Scriptures - the Bible is recognized as the only source of Christian doctrine. Every believer should study it and build his own life according to it. Every Christian has the right to read the Bible in their native language.

Basic tenets of Protestantism

Common to both Orthodoxy and Catholicism.
- the idea of ​​the trinity of God (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit),
- idea of ​​incarnation
- the idea of ​​the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.
All Protestants recognize the decisions of the first two Ecumenical Councils: the First Council of Nicaea and the First Council of Constantinople

Ideas of Protestantism

The idea of ​​salvation by faith
- the idea of ​​predestination.

The main differences between Protestantism and Catholicism and Orthodoxy

The main differences between Protestantism and Catholicism and Orthodoxy are in the features of rituals and worship. Protestants do not recognize:
· Apostolic succession of priests.
· The cult of saints, elders.
· Confession, repentance and communion.
· Religious fasting.
· Icons and spiritual art.
· Worship of relics.
· Monasticism (except Anglicans and Lutherans).
· the sign of the cross.
· Church sacraments (in some Protestant churches two sacraments are recognized - baptism and communion, but they also consider them to be deprived of God's grace). It is the lack of sacraments that critics of Protestantism explain the endless series of splits within Protestant organizations.

Services in various Protestant churches may differ somewhat, but their main features remain:

1. Sermon.

2. Prayer.

3. Singing psalms.

4. Lack of splendor.

There is no single religious center among the Protestants. Local Protestant churches operate autonomously.

Church organization, as such, does not exist at all in many Protestant denominations. But there are exceptions, for example, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists have a very clear and even rather complex hierarchy. Anglicans (in Great Britain) and Lutherans from the Scandinavian countries believe that their clergy have preserved apostolic succession, since at one time in these states entire dioceses broke away from the Roman church.

Spread of Protestantism

Spread literally all over the world. The reason for the large-scale expansion of many Protestant organizations lies in the well-established missionary work, when almost every believer can act as a preacher. Also, people are attracted by the simplicity of Protestant rites and the absence of payment for the performance of the sacraments. It is because of this that Protestantism appears in countries that are "canonical territories" of other churches. For example, in , South Korea, . To date, the number of adherents of various Protestant teachings is steadily increasing in various parts of the world.

But still there are states in which the Protestant population is an absolute majority. They are located mainly in and North. These are Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands,. Protestantism is also professed by the vast majority of the inhabitants of New Zealand. A significant number of Protestants live in (40%), (35%) Belgium (25%) and Hungary (25%).

If we talk about the number of adherents of individual Protestant denominations, then the situation in the world looks something like in the following way:
Lutherans - about 85 million people.
Anglicans - about 70 million people.
Methodists - about 50 million people.
Pentecostals - up to 50 million people.
Baptists - about 43 million people.
Adventists - about 6.5 million people.
Jehovah's Witnesses (their attitude to Protestantism, as well as to Christianity in general, is often disputed) - about 4.7 million people.
Quakers - about 250 thousand people.

Protestantism and the State

Protestants see in one of the main manifestations of the order established by God. From a dogmatic point of view, this postulate is explained by quotations from Holy Scripture: "... let every soul be subject to the higher authorities" (Romans 13:1).
State, according to the beliefs of Protestants, should perform the following functions:

  • Protect the rights and freedoms of the individual;
  • Cares about the common good;
  • Do justice (Romans 13:3);
  • Maintain law-abiding citizens (Romans 13:3);
  • Punish criminals (Romans 13:2-4);
  • Protect from internal and external enemies (Rom.13:4);
  • Collect taxes for the prosperity of the country (Romans 13:5-7).

The state should not be resisted (Romans 13:2). However, if secular power, contrary to the foregoing, will pass laws that will directly or indirectly prohibit free worship and the preaching of the Gospel, or will encourage believers to immoral actions (Acts 4:19), then the Protestant Churches reserve for themselves and their parishioners the right not to obey, but to act according to conscience and principles laid down in the gospel.

Attitude of Protestantism towards Entrepreneurship

Perhaps the most articulate. About the same detail as in Islam.

Protestant doctrine, in the first place, sees nothing shameful in doing business. And, secondly, he considers entrepreneurship to be one of the types of virtuous activity, provided that it is not carried out for the sake of increasing personal consumption. One of the postulates of Protestant ethics claims that only conscientious work can bring moral and material returns. Wealth is not considered shameful if it is acquired by honest labor. Moreover, it should be taken as a sign of being chosen and pleasing to God. Some Protestant schools interpret material wealth as a sign of salvation, in the sense that God is already helping such a person. As one of the founders of Methodism, John Wesley, said: "We must call on Christians to make as much money as they can and save everything they can, that is, strive for wealth."

According to the Protestant ethics of entrepreneurship, it is forbidden:
- Withhold the wages of the hired worker. “The wages of a hired hand shall not remain with you until morning” (Leviticus 19:13).
- Treat employees rudely. “Do not rule over him with cruelty” (Leviticus 25:43).
- Use dishonest methods of enrichment. “Uneven weights are an abomination to the Lord, and unbelievers are not good” (Proverbs 20:23).
- Work on the 7th day of the week. “Remember the day of rest to keep it holy; work for six days and do all your work, but on the seventh day, rest for the Lord your God (Exodus 20:8-11).

One of the main modern trends in Christianity is Protestantism, a doctrine that actually opposes the official Catholic Church, and we intend to talk about this in more detail today, having examined its main ideas, essence, principles, and philosophy of Protestantism, as one of the most massive for today. religious teachings peace.

Having arisen as an independent trend, Protestantism, along with Catholicism and Orthodoxy, has become one of the three main directions in Christianity.

What is Reformation in Christianity?

Protestantism is sometimes called the Reformers, the Reformation movement, or even the Revolutionaries of Christianity, for their ideas that the individual should be responsible for himself, not the Church.

According to the Protestant reformers, after the split of Christianity into Catholics and Orthodoxy, the Christian Church turned into officials who departed from the original teachings of the Apostles, but rather began to earn money from parishioners and increase its influence in society and on politicians.

History of Protestantism

It is believed that Protestantism appeared in Europe in the 16th century in the form of opposition to the Roman Catholic Church.. The teachings of the Protestants are sometimes called the Reformation, since the Protestants decided that the Catholics had departed from the principles true Christianity based on the teachings of the apostles.

The rise of Protestantism is associated with Martin Luther born in Saxony. And it is he who is considered the initiator of the Reformation, who opposed the sale of indulgences by the Roman Catholic Church. By the way, it has already been canceled, perhaps thanks to him.

Indulgence among Catholics

In the modern Catholic Church, the position is accepted that one can be freed from sins if one performs repentance during the sacrament of confession. But during the Renaissance or the Renaissance, sometimes indulgences were simply handed out for money.

Seeing what the Catholics had come to, Martin Luther began to speak out openly against this, and also argued that Christianity needed to be urgently and significantly reformed.

Principles of Protestantism and the Protestant Faith

Religious principles in Protestantism are expressed in the form of the theology or statement of faith of the Reformation, that is, the transformation catholic christianity. These principles include the following:

  • The word of God is found only in the Bible and therefore it is the Bible that is the only source and document for the believer;
  • No matter what actions a person does - Forgiveness can be earned only by faith, but not by money.;
  • Salvation in Protestantism is generally regarded as God's grace and this is not the merit of man, but it is a gift from God for the sake of Jesus Christ and for people living on earth. And salvation, according to the Bible, is the deliverance of a person from his sins and, accordingly, from grave consequences namely from death and hell. And it says that salvation is possible because of the manifestation of God's love for man;
  • The Church cannot even be a mediator between God and man. And the only mediator is Christ. And therefore salvation is possible not through faith in the church, but through faith in Jesus and in God directly;
  • You can only worship God, since salvation comes only through him. Therefore, just as a person believes in the redemption of sins through Jesus, so faith in God is also salvation;
  • Any believer can and has the right to expound and interpret the word of God.

Basic ideas of Protestantism

All the main ideas of Protestantism began with Martin Luther, when he began to oppose the indulgence of the Roman Catholic Church, when the absolution of sins was sold for money and there was a fee or price for every crime.

Himself Martin Luther argued that absolution is not performed by the Pope, but by God. Also in Protestantism, the idea is seriously affirmed that the Bible is the only source of the teachings of Christianity.

As a result, Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church, which led to the split of the Church into Catholics and Protestants ( Lutherans) and contributed to the emergence of many wars on religious grounds.

Supporters or followers of Martin Luther became known as Protestants after they spoke in his defence. This happened after the Speyr Reichstag (the highest legislative authority of the Roman Church) declared Martin Luther a heretic.

Essence of Protestantism

At its core, the teaching of Protestantism, like Orthodoxy and Catholics, relies on faith in the One God, as well as on the Bible, as the only source of the teachings of Christianity.

Protestants recognize the virgin birth of Jesus Christ and his death for human sins. They also believe in the resurrection of Jesus after his death.

And they are waiting for the messiah or the return of Christ in the flesh in the future. Lutherans in the 20th century even succeeded in obtaining a ban on the teaching of the theory of Charles Darwin in some US states as "anti-divine".

Philosophy of Protestantism

The philosophy of Protestantism is based on the reformation of Roman Catholicism, which is considered to have departed from the true teachings of the Bible.

In addition, the Catholic Church in the West owned up to 1/3 of the cultivated land, where the labor of serfs was used, that is, practically slaves. And Protestantism emphasizes personal responsibility to God and society, and also disapproves of slavery.

In England, the Lutherans even demanded the abolition of the papal system of power. So the well-known Lutheran John Wyclif argued that the Roman Church had departed from the true doctrine after the schism. And he talked about the fact that Jesus Christ, and not the Pope, is the head of the church and the authority for the believer is the Bible, not the Church.

Supporters of Protestantism

The Lutheran Reformation was supported by the peasants, who were practically ruined by the church tithe, as well as by the artisans, who were heavily taxed.

Protestantism rejects all decrees of the Pope and all his decrees, arguing that one Sacred Teaching or the Bible is sufficient. At one time, Martin Luther even publicly burned one of the papal decrees.

Naturally, soon after dissatisfaction with large church businesses with a turnover of tens, if not hundreds of billions of dollars a year, the persecution of Protestants began, and although Martin Luther himself did not suffer, nevertheless two Protestant monks were burned. The philosophy of the Lutherans has already been used in their own way populace in their knightly and peasant wars.

Later, Martin Luther wrote two books for Protestant believers: one for pastors, which tells how to preach correctly, and the other for ordinary believers, which outlined the Ten Commandments, the Creed and the Lord's Prayer.

Directions in Protestantism

One of the famous trends in Lutheranism is Evangelicalism- this includes Mennonites and Baptists. So in Russia the gospels are known Baptists, Pentecostals and prokhanovites.

The main principles of Evangelicalism include the affirmation of the Bible as the only affirmation of God, as well as active missionary activity.

Also, the directions in Protestantism can be attributed fundamentalism, Liberalism and dialectical theology. All of them are based on the Bible - as the only teaching from God.

Features of the teachings of Protestantism

Protestants have common ideas with other Christian traditions, such as the One God, the Trinity, Heaven and Hell, and the sacraments of Baptism and Communion are also recognized.

But on the other hand, there is no tradition of prayers for the dead and prayers to the saints, as is the case with Catholics or Orthodox.

Any room can be used in Protestant worship and it is based on preaching, prayer and psalm singing.

Number of Protestants

Protestantism is considered the second largest number of believers in Christianity and has up to 800 million people. Protestantism is spread in 92 countries of the world.

Conclusion

Needless to say, Martin Luther managed to spread his teachings, which he always dreamed of. And perhaps the Protestants went deeper, towards the personal freedom of each person, in contrast to the more traditional ecclesiastical and commercial Christianity.

And yet, God still acts as something external to man. And for some reason, everyone passes by the main thing - by God, and "God is Love," as Jesus Christ said.

After all, if God is Love, then it is invisible, it can only be felt, it simply is. I am what I am. Love is being itself, it is love for everyone, it is really g, and what even Protestants should not forget about with their desire to reform only the external part of this doctrine, in fact, as well as love for nature and everything else.

I hope for further meetings on our Learning and Self-Development portal, where we have already written not only about the philosophy, essence, ideas of the Protestant church and Protestants, but also about other types of Christianity, for example, you can or about.


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 creed 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. From here 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 holy book the Protestants have the Bible, and therefore the decrees church councils, the creations of the Church Fathers, etc. do not have sacred status. However, the reading of such sources is not forbidden and is considered as spiritually beneficial.

From the proposition about "Justification by faith alone" follows the attitude towards the sacraments. Protestantism recognizes two sacraments - baptism and communion. For example, baptism is performed after the conscious acceptance of faith, after reaching the age of majority ("baptism by faith"). At the same time, some Protestant denominations (Lutherans, Anglicans, Reformed) do not exclude baptism in infancy with mandatory confirmation of acceptance of the faith at a more mature age.

Protestants deny the cult of the Virgin, the veneration of icons, the sign of the cross. The circle of holidays includes only those that are associated with Jesus Christ. Along with special church buildings, the possibility of worship in any room is recognized.

The Protestant church community is a tight-knit group with strictly controlled membership. The leadership of the congregations is carried out by presbyters (pastors) and their assistants, who are chosen from among the members of the congregation.

An important provision of the Protestant creed is contained in concept of predestination. It is believed that every person before his birth is predestined to be saved or perish. In other words, not only the fate of a person is predetermined, but also an afterlife existence - a stay in hell or paradise after death. At the same time, no one can know what is in store for him. Only by indirect signs (for example, success in business) can a person guess about the special disposition of God towards him. It must be pointed out that salvation is not the merit of man. Neither good deeds, neither prayer nor even sincere faith can achieve God's Grace. Salvation is exclusively a gift of God.

Protestantism greatly simplified and cheapened cult activities, which attracted a large number of followers. It is recognized that the ideology and creed of Protestantism gave a direct impetus to the emergence of an "entrepreneurial spirit" in Europe. If the Catholic worldview consists in the realization of the dependence of the individual (as a result of his sinfulness, a person cannot turn to God himself), then Protestantism opens the door to understanding worldly activity as the fulfillment God's commandments given in Holy Scripture. The ideas of Protestantism were the main spiritual prerequisite for the formation of European bourgeois civilization.

Main directions of Protestantism

Protestantism is a complex religious formation, including a large number of directions. Beginning in the 16th century, the process of the formation of new Christian churches has not ended to this day. Naturally, having opposed itself to the Roman Catholic Church, developing its doctrine, Protestantism found various ways to implement new ideas. Historically, the first trend in Protestantism is Lutheranism.

Lutheran (Evangelical) Church. It was formed under the influence of the ideas of Martin Luther. Lutheranism recognizes the Niceno-Tsargrad Creed, has its own doctrinal books - "The Augsburg Confession" (1530), Luther's catechisms, "The Book of Concord" (1580). The Bible is the only sacred book. The basic principle of Lutheranism is "justification by faith" in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Of the sacraments, Lutheranism recognizes only baptism and communion. Lutheranism is most widely spread in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and the USA. There are many Lutheran communities in Russia as well. Today there are about 80 million followers of this Protestant trend in the world.

Calvinism. Calvinism (Reformed and Presbyterian churches), like Lutheranism, is one of the earliest branches of Protestantism. The religious concept of John Calvin (1509-1564) played a decisive role in its formation.

Calvinism denies the obligatory Creed. The Bible is considered the only sacred book, but the Instructions in the Christian Faith (1536-1559), Church Ordinances, Geneva Catechism (1545) and other works of Calvin are especially popular. In Calvinism, such objects of worship as icons, candles, and a cross are not recognized. Baptism and communion for Calvinists are nothing more than symbolic rites. Great importance plays in Calvinism the concept of predestination.

According to researchers, Calvinism, having greatly reformed catholic faith, was the most radical trend in Protestantism.

Calvinism is widespread in France, the Netherlands, Hungary, Czech Republic, USA, Canada, Australia. From Calvinism, a variety of it stood out, such as Congregationalism.

AT modern world there are about 55 million Calvinists.

Anglican Church. It was formed by giving state status to Protestantism in the English kingdom. The creed of Anglicanism is a document called "39 Articles" (1571). As in other areas of Protestantism, Holy Tradition is rejected, and Holy Scripture is revered as the primary source of dogma. The head of the Church of England is the king or queen. In contrast to Lutheranism and Calvinism, Anglicanism combines provisions on salvation by personal faith with the provision on the saving role of the church, the hierarchy of clergy is preserved, and the priests themselves are regarded as mediators between God and man.

Anglicanism more than others Protestant churches absorbed catholic traditions (church hierarchy celebrating mass).

In addition to England itself, this trend is widespread in Scotland, the USA, India, South Africa, Pakistan, Canada, Australia, i.e. in countries that were once part of british empire. The number of Anglicans in the world is about 58.5 million people.

Baptism originated in the 17th century in England. The basis of the Baptist doctrine is the Bible. Faith in Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice is considered sufficient grounds for salvation. Only the one whom God has chosen believes. Of particular importance in Baptism is the doctrine of " spiritual revival", occurring under the influence of the "Holy Spirit" entering into a person, which means the unity of the spirit of each believer with Jesus Christ.

Baptists practice the sacraments of baptism and communion as symbolic rites of spiritual union with Christ. Baptism is a conscious act of conversion to faith. Distinctive feature Baptism is rite of catechiment(approaches): before baptism and entry into the community, "approximants" undergo an annual probationary period.

Ritual and cult practice in Baptism is characterized by modesty, unpompousness. House of Prayer does not fundamentally differ from its secular counterpart; there are also no objects of worship.

Baptism is one of the most widespread areas of Protestantism in the world and, in particular, in Russia. The number of followers of Baptism today reaches 72 million people.

Adventism

Adventism owes its origin to Baptism, from which it emerged in the early 1930s.

The characteristic of Adventism is waiting for the soon coming of Jesus Christ. Within the framework of Adventism, an original eschatological concept has been developed - the belief that the imminent destruction of the world is coming, after which the world will be created. new earth and the millennium kingdom of Jesus Christ will be established. A person, according to the teachings of Adventists, dies both bodily and spiritually. But only the righteous, the followers of Adventism, will be resurrected. At the end of the reign of Christ, the unrighteous will also be resurrected, but only to serve the righteous.

The direction called "Seventh-day Adventists" has received the greatest distribution, in which a number of new provisions have been put forward. The first provision proclaims celebration of the seventh day (Saturday). Second - "health reform" preparation of the human body for the resurrection. In the latter case, bans are introduced on the consumption of pork, tea, coffee, tobacco, and alcohol.

The Seventh Day Adventist Church is strengthening its position in the world and is rapidly developing in Russia. There are currently 16 million Adventists in the world.

Pentecostalism

Pentecostalism is another major branch of Protestantism. According to the New Testament (the book "Acts of the Holy Apostles"), on the fiftieth day after the death of Christ, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, after which they received the ability to prophesy and speak different languages. Pentecostals are close in their doctrine and ritual to Baptism, but emphasize the possibility of direct mystical communion with God. Pentecostals believe that it is possible to receive a prophetic gift, like the apostles, to every member of their church. The number of Pentecostals in the world is approaching, according to some estimates, 119 million people.

The considered Protestant directions are the largest. There are many more trends, such as: Mennonites, Unitarians, Moravians, Quakers, Mormons etc. In the modern world, there are also such (quite widespread) offshoots of Protestantism, which in their doctrine have so strongly departed from traditional Christianity that they can hardly be considered Christian - this Jehovah witnesses etc.

Protestant Bible

There is no single Protestant Bible: all Protestant Bibles are translations made in the 16th century. during or after the Reformation. Even King James Bible (King James Version) never acquired the status of an official translation of the Church of England, although it is often called Officially approved translation (Authorized version).

During the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church discouraged translations of the Vulgate for fear that without ecclesiastical guidance, the text might be distorted or that the words of the Bible might be misunderstood. However, the Protestant reformers of the early XVI century. believed that God speaks directly to man through the Bible and that reading and studying the Bible is the right and duty of every Christian.

Translations were needed in order to give the Bible to the majority of Christians, for whom Latin was a dead language. “How can people think about what they cannot understand?” asks one of the translators in the preface to King James Bible. The Reformers were not the first translators of the Bible (in the period after the invention of printing and before the advent of Luther's Bible, 17 editions in German were published in Germany). The Protestant Reformers either promoted translations or took it upon themselves to translate the Bible into the languages ​​of their own countries. They took as a basis not the Vulgate, but the Hebrew text Old Testament and the Greek text of the New Testament. In the early 20s of the XVI century. Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German, Jacobus Faber - on French, and William Tyndall on English. Translations of the Old Testament were carried out by the same translators, but in the next decade. Since then, many Protestant translations have been published.

Protestant rites and holidays

The most important element of the cult of many Protestant churches is the communion. Most often, this rite is included as a component action in a wider "Institute of Christ"- The Lord's Supper, a prayer meeting held once a month. The breaking of bread consists of two actions - breaking and distributing bread and communion with wine or fruit juice. The basis of the rite is a number of New Testament texts for the "remembrance" of the sufferings of Jesus Christ. According to theologians, "Broken bread" is a symbol of the body of the Lord, beaten, wounded and disfigured for the sins of people, and wine is a symbol of the blood of the Lord shed also for these sins. Only those who have already passed the rite of water baptism are allowed to the communion.

In some Protestant churches, the breaking of bread is preceded by the rite of washing the feet. The basis of this rite are the lines from the Gospel of John: "... If I, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, then you should wash each other's feet"(13:14). This rite is aimed at ensuring that believers demonstrate their "humility and love for each other." It is held at the end of the prayer meeting as follows. Water is poured into the basins, and the believers line up to them: the first wash their feet second, the second third, and the last wash their feet first, which are usually the clergy. Water and towels are changed periodically.

In our country, this rite is performed by Christians of the Evangelical faith.

In almost all currents of Protestantism, there are no fasts so characteristic of Orthodoxy, but there is no special division of writing into lean and humble.

In large Protestant movements - Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Calvinism and Methodism - there is no regulation of nutrition, indications of the prohibition of certain products or methods of their cooking. Therefore, during the few religious holidays(for example, Christmas), differences in the ritual dishes of the named Protestant churches in different countries due to national nutritional characteristics. However, in some currents of Protestantism, food traditions are given importance. First of all, this applies to Seventh-day Adventists and Quakers.

One of significant holidays in a number of Protestant movements (Baptists, evangelists, Adventists, etc.) - the Feast of the Harvest, celebrated in September. This is a modernized Hebrew holiday for the completion of rural work. The Old Testament book Exodus (23:16) says: "Observe both the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of thy labor which thou hast sown in the field, and the feast of the gathering of fruit... when thou hast taken thy work out of the field." AT modern holiday Harvest is understood both in the literal sense - harvesting, and figuratively - summing up the results of the annual activity in God's field, that is, missionary work.

Evangelical Christian Baptists in the Territory former USSR celebrate Unity Day, designed to recall the history of the creation of the Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists.



Among the many Protestant denominations, Lutheranism, Calvinism and Anglicanism are of greater importance. Baptism, evangelical Christianity, Pentecostalism, Methodism, Adventism, and Presbyterianism developed into major movements.

Lutheranism

Lutheranism was named after the founder of the German Reformation, Martin Luther. Today Lutheran churches cover up to 70 million believers and are represented in 68 countries. Lutheranism is most widespread in Germany and the Scandinavian countries - Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. Lutheranism is distinguished by the preservation of the episcopal organization and the principle of the state church, established during the Reformation. In the Scandinavian countries, the king (queen) is still considered the head of the church.

The largest figure in the Reformation in Germany was the theologian and public figure Martin Luther (1483-1546), who rejected the allocation of the sacred sphere of activity inherent in the Catholic Church (fasts, good deeds, sacraments, veneration of sacred places and relics), which ensures the achievement of salvation, and declared the main form Christian ministry everyday life a person who realizes his chosenness. The concept of “earthly calling” becomes fundamental, which consists in serving one’s neighbors and persistently achieving the goals set. Luther went down in history as an outstanding figure of German culture, who, with his translation of the Bible, established the foundations of the common German language. In the Lutheran tradition, outstanding successes were achieved in the field of theology, philosophy, literature, and musical creativity.

Calvinism

Calvinism, one of the radical and democratic trends of Protestantism, got its name from one of the most significant figures of the Reformation - John Calvin. Calvin developed the doctrine of absolute predestination, according to which all people, by an incomprehensible divine will, are divided into the elect and the condemned. Neither by his faith nor by "good deeds" can a person change anything in the fate that awaits him after death. Calvin proclaimed the principle of worldly asceticism, which focused on the dedication of all forces to work and the achievement of success in professional activities. An objective indicator of earthly success was considered wealth, accumulation of funds, high social status. Inactivity, unproductive waste of capital and time is condemned by Calvinist ethics. Wealth, interpreted as a gift from God, is sinful to use for personal needs. Professional growth and other dimensions of success in earthly affairs, according to the teachings of Calvin, indirectly testify to the chosenness of God. Calvinism denies the hierarchical structure of the church and sovereignty Pope of Rome. Divine services performed in the native language are greatly simplified. Democratic tendencies manifested themselves in the organization of church life, and the role of the laity increased significantly. In the XVI-XVII centuries. Calvinism became the ideological basis of the first bourgeois revolutions in Europe.

Calvinism is divided into reformed religions that have become widespread in France (Huguenots), the Netherlands, in some areas of Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Presbyterianism and Congregationalism, common in England. Modern Calvinism, divided into a number of currents, has 40-50 million followers. Calvinism had a significant impact on the socio-cultural dynamics of Western society, influenced the development of such areas of Western thought as utilitarianism, pragmatism, and positivism.

Anglicanism

Anglicanism arose in England in the middle of the 16th century. as a result of the reform of the church organization carried out by the king Henry VIII declared by the head of the church. Anglicanism retains a significant proximity to the Catholic Church (preservation of the hierarchy, three degrees of priesthood). Anglicanism combines the Catholic doctrine of the saving power of the church with the Protestant doctrine of salvation by personal faith.

Church of England is one of the state churches of Great Britain (the other is Presbyterian Church of Scotland). Its head is the monarch. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are appointed by the monarch on the advice of government commission. The Anglican Church owns large land holdings, real estate and capital. The Anglican Church maintains extensive ecumenical contacts with the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant trends. The number of followers of Anglicanism is about 68 million people. The Anglican Communion is made up of 25 autonomous churches. The higher hierarchs of these independent churches meet periodically at Lambeth conferences.

Baptism

Baptism, one of the most numerous Protestant denominations, originated in England in early XVII in. The founder is John Smith(1554-1612). The name of the denomination (from the Greek baptizo - immerse in water, baptize) is associated with the practice of baptizing adults. Baptists are distinguished by their consistency in the implementation of Protestant principles. Only "surviving spiritual birth" people who consciously accepted water baptism are considered members of the church. Evangelism, spreading the faith is seen as the duty of every believer. The main Baptist rites include water baptism, communion, marriage, and burial. Decisions are made on the basis of democratic procedures.

Baptism in the USA is the largest Protestant organization, owning significant capital, having its own universities, magazines, newspapers, and publishing houses. Baptism is an essential component of Americanism. American Baptism plays a leading role in the World Baptist Union. In the middle of the XIX century. Baptism began to spread among the population of Ukraine, in the Volga region and in the Caucasus. In 1884, the Union of Russian Baptists was created. AT late XIX in. among the St. Petersburg nobility, the ideas of evangelical Christianity are spreading - a direction close in doctrine to the Baptists. In 1944, as a result of the unification of Baptists and Evangelical Christians, the Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists was formed in the USSR. In 1945, part of the Christians of the Evangelical faith (Pentecostals) joined him. In 1961, a group of Baptists broke away from the ECB, which did not accept the policy of the leadership of the ECB Union and formed a direction called the Council of ECB Churches.

Pentecostalism

One of the largest Protestant denominations in the modern world is Pentecostalism. The name of this direction is associated with the New Testament story about the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles on the day of Pentecost and their ability to prophesy in unknown languages ​​(glossolalia). Central to the Pentecostal doctrine is the dogma of "the baptism with the Holy Spirit." The modern Pentecostal movement emerged in the early 20th century. Initially, the charismatics acted as the spiritual elite of various churches, then they organized their own movements. Pentecostals are represented by many movements and sects whose leaders gather at World Pentecostal Conferences. Pentecostalism is a dynamic form of Protestantism with over 50 million followers in most parts of the world. AT former council In the Soviet Union, the Pentecostal communities were illegal until the end of the 1980s. The largest denominations of Pentecostals in the post-Soviet space are Christians of the Evangelical Faith (CBE), Christians of the Evangelical Faith (CHEV), Evangelical Christians in the spirit of the apostles.

Adventism

Adventism (from Latin - advent) originated in the United States in the middle of the 19th century. At the heart of the Adventist creed is the eschatological doctrine of the imminent coming of Christ, which will end the eternal struggle between God and Satan. All the righteous will be resurrected eternal life. The founder is preacher William Miller, who stated that he determined the date of the second coming of Jesus Christ. In the second half of the XIX century. E. White becomes the leader of the Adventist movement, asserting the idea of ​​the proximity of the advent, the date of which is impossible to know. Of the directions of Adventism, the most widespread are Seventh-day Adventists (SDA), celebrating the Sabbath as a sacred day. The number of all Adventist unions is approaching 7-8 million. National Adventist organizations are united in world union Adventists.

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 constitute the "universal priesthood" and are in equal rights and equal 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 own life 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 one or another doctrine or practice.

Protestants teach that original sin perverted 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.