What is Protestantism? This is one of the three directions of Christianity, a collection of independent churches and denominations. The history of Protestantism dates back to the 16th century, during the era of a broad religious and socio-political movement called the “Reformation”, which translated from Latin means “correction”, “transformation”, “transformation”.

Reformation

In the Middle Ages in Western Europe, the church ruled everything. And Catholic. What is Protestantism? This is a religious social phenomenon that arose in the first half of the 16th century as opposition to the Roman Catholic Church.

In October 1517, Martin Luther posted on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church the provisions he formulated, which were based on a protest against the abuses of the church. This document in history was called the “95 Theses”, and its appearance marked the beginning of an important religious movement. Protestantism developed within the framework of the Reformation. In 1648, the Peace of Westphalia was signed, according to which religion finally ceased to play an important role in European politics.

Supporters of the Reformation believed that the Catholic Church had long ago departed far from the original Christian principles. Of course they were right. Just remember the trade in indulgences. In order to understand what Protestantism is, you should familiarize yourself with the biography and activities of Martin Luther. This man was the leader of the religious revolution that took place in Western Europe in the 16th century.

Martin Luther

This man was the first to translate the Bible from Latin into German. He is considered one of the founders of Hochdeutsch - the literary German language. Martin Luther was born into the family of a former peasant who one day went to a big city, where he worked in copper mines and then became a wealthy burgher. The future public and religious figure had a good inheritance, in addition, he received a good education for those times.

Martin Luther had a Master of Arts degree and studied law. However, in 1505, against the will of his father, he took monastic vows. After receiving his doctorate in theology, Luther launched extensive opposition activities. Every year he felt his weakness in relation to God more and more acutely. Having visited Rome in 1511, he was stunned by the depravity of the Roman Catholic clergy. Luther soon became the main opponent of the official church. He formulated the “95 Theses,” which were directed primarily against the sale of indulgences.

Luther was immediately condemned and, according to the traditions of the time, called a heretic. But he, as far as possible, did not pay attention to the attacks and continued his work. In the early twenties, Luther began translating the Bible. He actively preached and called for the renewal of the church.

Martin Luther believed that the church is not an obligatory mediator between God and man. The only way to save the soul, in his opinion, is faith. He rejected all decrees and messages. He considered the Bible to be the main source of Christian truths. One of the directions of Protestantism is named after Martin Luther, the essence of which is the rejection of the dominant role of the church in human life.

Meaning of the term

The essence of Protestantism was originally the rejection of Catholic dogma. This term itself is translated from Latin as “disagreement”, “objection”. After Luther formulated his theses, persecution of his supporters began. The Speyer Protestation is a document that was filed in defense of adherents of the Reformation. Hence the name of the new direction in Christianity.

Basics of Protestantism

The history of this Christian movement begins precisely with Martin Luther, who believed that a person is capable of finding the path to God even without a church. Basic truths are found in the Bible. This, perhaps, is the philosophy of Protestantism. At one time, of course, its foundations were outlined in quite some detail, and in Latin. The Reformers formulated the principles of Protestant theology as follows:

• Sola Scriptura.
• Sola fide.
• Sola gratia.
• Solus Christus.
• Soli Deο gloria.

Translated into Russian, these words sound approximately like this: “only Scripture, faith, grace, Christ.” Protestants formulated five theses in Latin. The proclamation of these postulates was the result of the fight against Catholic dogmas. In the Lutheran version there are only three theses. Let's take a closer look at the classical ideas of Protestantism.

Only Scripture

The only source of God's word for a believer is the Bible. It and only it contain the basic Christian doctrines. The Bible does not require interpretation. Calvinists, Lutherans, and Anglicans, to varying degrees, did not accept the old traditions. However, they all denied the authority of the Pope, indulgences, salvation for good deeds, and veneration of relics.

How does Protestantism differ from Orthodoxy? There are many differences between these Christian movements. One of them is in relation to the saints. Protestants, with the exception of Lutherans, do not recognize them. In the life of Orthodox Christians, the veneration of saints plays an important role.

Only by faith

According to Protestant teaching, a person can only be saved from sin through faith. Catholics believed that it was enough just to purchase an indulgence. However, this was a long time ago, in the Middle Ages. Today, many Christians believe that salvation from sins comes after doing good deeds, which, according to Protestants, are the inevitable fruits of faith, evidence of forgiveness.

So, one of the five doctrines is Sola fide. Translated into Russian it means “only by faith.” Catholics believe that good deeds bring forgiveness. Protestants do not devalue good deeds. However, the main thing for them is still faith.

Only by grace

One of the key concepts of Christian theology is grace. It comes, according to Protestant doctrine, as unmerited grace. The only subject of grace is God. It is always valid, even if a person does not take any action. People cannot earn grace through their actions.

Only Christ

The Church is not the link between man and God. The only mediator is Christ. However, Lutherans honor the memory of the Virgin Mary and other saints. In Protestantism, the church hierarchy has been abolished. A baptized person has the right to preach and perform divine services without the clergy.

In Protestantism, confession is not as important as in Catholicism and Orthodoxy. Absolution by the clergy is completely absent. However, repentance directly before God plays a significant role in the life of Protestants. As for monasteries, they completely reject them.

Glory to God only

One of the commandments is “You shall not make for yourself an idol.” Protestants rely on it, arguing that a person should bow only to God. Salvation is granted solely through his will. Reformists believe that any human being, including a saint canonized by the church, is unworthy of glory and respect.

There are several directions of Protestantism. The main ones are Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Calvinism. It is worth talking about the founder of the latter.

John Calvin

The French theologian, a follower of the Reformation, took monastic vows as a child. He studied at universities where many Lutherans studied. After the conflict between Protestants and Catholics in France escalated significantly, he left for Switzerland. Here Calvin's teachings gained wide popularity. He also promoted Protestantism in his homeland, France, where the number of Huguenots was growing rapidly. The city of La Rochelle became the center of the Reformation.

Calvinism

So, the founder of Protestantism in the French-speaking area was John Calvin. However, he promoted Reformed theories more in Switzerland. The attempt of the Huguenots, the same Calvinists, to gain a foothold in his homeland was not particularly successful. In 1560 they made up approximately 10% of the total population of France. But in the second half of the 16th century, the Huguenot Wars broke out. During the Night of Bartholomew, about three thousand Calvinists were killed. Nevertheless, the Huguenots achieved some relief, which they achieved thanks to the Edict of Nantes - a law that granted religious rights to French Protestants.

Calvinism also penetrated the countries of Eastern Europe, but did not occupy a leading position here. The influence of Protestantism was quite strong in Holland. In 1571, Calvinists firmly established themselves in this state and formed the Dutch Reformed Church.

Anglicanism

The religious base of the followers of this Protestant movement was established back in the sixteenth century. The main feature of the Anglican Church is absolute loyalty to the throne. According to one of the founders of the doctrine, an atheist poses a threat to morality. Catholic - for the state. Today, Anglicanism is practiced by about seventy million people, more than a third of whom live in England.

Protestantism in Russia

The first adherents of the Reformation appeared on the territory of Russia back in the sixteenth century. At first these were Protestant communities founded by master traders from Western Europe. In 1524, a peace treaty was concluded between Sweden and the Grand Duchy of Moscow, after which followers of Martin Luther poured into the country. They were not only traders, but also artists, pharmacists, and artisans.

Already, during the reign of Ivan IV, medical jewelers also appeared in Moscow. Many arrived from European countries by invitation, as representatives of social professions. Even more foreigners appeared during the time of Peter the Great, who actively invited highly qualified specialists from Protestant countries. Many of them later became part of the Russian nobility.

According to the Treaty of Nystad, concluded in 1721, Sweden ceded to Russia the territories of Estonia, Livonia, and Ingria. Residents of the annexed lands were guaranteed freedom of religion. This was stated in one of the clauses of the agreement.

Foreigners appeared on Russian territory in another, less peaceful way. There were especially many Protestants among prisoners of war, in particular after the Livonian War, which ended in 1582. At the end of the 17th century, two Lutheran churches appeared in Moscow. Churches were also built in Arkhangelsk and Astrakhan. During the 18th century, several Protestant communities were formed in St. Petersburg. Among them, three are German or Italian, one is Dutch Reformed. In 1832, the charter of Protestant churches on the territory of the Russian Empire was approved.

Large Protestant communities appeared in Ukraine throughout the 19th century. Their representatives were, as a rule, descendants of German colonists. In the mid-19th century, a community of Stundists was formed in one of the Ukrainian villages, which in the late sixties numbered more than thirty families. The Stundists first attended the Orthodox Church and turned to the pastor for marriage and children. However, persecution soon began, which was accompanied by the confiscation of literature. Then there was a break with Orthodoxy.

Churches

What are the main features of Protestantism are stated above. But there are also external differences between this Christian movement and Catholicism and Orthodoxy. What is Protestantism? This is the doctrine that the main source of truth in the life of a believer is the Holy Scriptures. Protestants do not practice prayers for the dead. They treat saints differently. Some people revere them. Others reject it completely. Protestant churches are free from luxurious decoration. They don't have icons. Any building can serve as a building for a church. Protestant worship consists of prayer, preaching, psalm singing and communion.

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, 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.

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 ministers are rejected.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 the majority of 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. 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

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, Baptism 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. The main idea of ​​this direction is expressed in the name.

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

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, 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.

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 in 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 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.

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.

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.”

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 the 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!

Protestantism is one of the spiritual and political movements that belongs to varieties of Christianity. Its appearance is directly related to the development of the Reformation, which began after the split in Mainstream Protestantism: Calvinism, Lutheranism, Anglicanism and Zwinglianism. However, the fragmentation of these faiths has been happening continuously for several hundred years.

The Birth of Protestantism

The emergence of the Reformation in Europe occurred as a result of dissatisfaction among believers with the immoral behavior and abuse of their rights by many religious figures of the Catholic Church. All these problems were condemned not only by ordinary pious people, but also by public figures and theologians.

The ideas of Protestantism and the Reformation were proclaimed by professors at Oxford and the University of Prague J. Wycliffe and Jan Hus, who opposed the abuse of the rights of priests and the exactions of the Pope imposed on England. They expressed doubts about the right of churchmen to forgive sins, rejected the idea of ​​​​the reality of the sacrament of communion, of the transformation of bread into the body of the Lord.

Jan Hus demanded that the church give up accumulated wealth, sell positions, and advocated depriving the clergy of various privileges, including the rite of communion with wine. For his ideas, he was declared a heretic and burned at the stake in 1415. However, his ideas were taken up by his Hussite followers, who continued his struggle and achieved some rights.

Major teachings and figures

The founder of Protestantism, who worked first in Germany and Switzerland, was Martin Luther (1483-1546). There were other leaders: T. Münzer, J. Calvin, W. Zwingli. The most pious Catholic believers, having observed for many years the luxury and debauchery occurring among the highest clergy, began to express protests, criticizing them for their formal attitude towards the norms of religious life.

According to the founders of Protestantism, the most striking expression of the church's desire to enrich itself were indulgences, which were sold for money to ordinary believers. The main slogan of the Protestants was the restoration of the traditions of the early Christian church and the increase in the authority of the Holy Scriptures (the Bible), the institution of church power and the existence of priests and the Pope himself as a mediator between the flock and God were rejected. This is how the first direction of Protestantism appeared - Lutheranism, proclaimed by Martin Luther.

Definition and basic postulates

Protestantism is a term derived from the Latin protestatio (proclamation, assurance, dissent), which refers to the body of denominations of Christianity that emerged as a result of the Reformation. The doctrine is based on attempts to understand the Bible and Christ, different from the classical Christian one.

Protestantism is a complex religious formation and includes many directions, the main of which are Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglicanism, named after scientists who proclaimed new ideas.

The classical teachings of Protestantism contain 5 main postulates:

1. The Bible is the only source of religious teaching, which every believer can interpret in his own way.
2. All actions are justified by faith alone, regardless of whether they are good or not.
3. Salvation is a good gift from God to man, therefore the believer himself cannot save himself.
4. Protestants deny the influence of the Mother of God and the saints in salvation and see it only through the sole faith in Christ. Church ministers cannot be mediators between God and the flock.
5. Man honors and glorifies only God.

Different branches of Protestantism have differences in their denials of Catholic dogmas and the basic tenets of their religion, the recognition of certain sacraments, etc.

Lutheran (Evangelical) Church

The beginning of this direction of Protestantism was laid by the teachings of M. Luther and his translation of the Bible from Latin into German, so that every believer could get acquainted with the text and have their own opinion and interpretation of it. The new religious teaching put forward the idea of ​​subordinating the church to the state, which aroused interest and popularity among the German kings. They supported the reforms, dissatisfied with large payments of money to the Pope and his attempts to interfere in the politics of European states.

Lutherans in their faith recognize 6 books written by M. Luther “Augsburg Confession”, “Book of Concord”, etc., which set out the basic dogmas and ideas about sin and its justification, about God, the Church and the sacraments.

It became widespread in Germany, Austria, Scandinavian countries, and later in the USA. Its main principle is “justification by faith”; of the religious sacraments, only baptism and communion are recognized. The Bible is considered the only indicator of the correctness of faith. Priests are pastors who preach the Christian faith, but do not rise above the rest of the parishioners. Lutherans also practice the rites of confirmation, wedding, funeral service and ordination.

There are now about 80 million adherents worldwide and 200 active churches.

Calvinism

Germany was and remains the cradle of the reform movement, but later another movement appeared in Switzerland, which divided into independent groups under the general name of the Churches of the Reformation.

One of the currents of Protestantism - Calvinism, which includes the Reformed and Presbyterian churches, differs from Lutheranism in its greater rigidity of views and gloomy consistency, which were characteristic of the religious Middle Ages.

Differences from other Protestant movements:

• The Holy Scripture is recognized as the only source, any church councils are considered unnecessary;
• monasticism is denied, because God created women and men for the purpose of forming a family and having children;
• the institution of rituals is being eliminated, including music, candles, icons and paintings in the church;
• the concept of predestination is put forward, the sovereignty of God and his power over the lives of people and the world, the possibility of his condemnation or salvation.

Today, Reformed churches are located in England, many European countries and the USA. In 1875, the “World Alliance of Reformed Churches” was created, which united 40 million believers.

John Calvin and his books

Scientists classify Calvinism as a radical movement in Protestantism. All reform ideas were set forth in the teachings of its founder, who also showed himself as a public figure. Proclaiming his principles, he became practically the ruler of the city of Geneva, introducing his life reforms that corresponded to the norms of Calvinism. His influence in Europe is evidenced by the fact that he earned himself the name “Pope of Geneva.”

The teachings of J. Calvin were set forth in his books “Instructions in the Christian Faith”, “Gallican Confession”, “Geneva Catechism”, “Heidelberg Catechism”, etc. The Reformation of the Church in accordance with Calvin has a rationalistic direction, which is also manifested by distrust of mystical miracles .

Introduction of Protestantism in England

The ideologist of the Reformation movement in the British Isles was Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. The formation of Anglicanism took place in the 2nd half of the 16th century and was very different from the emergence of Protestantism in Germany and Switzerland.

A movement at the behest of King Henry VIII, who was denied a divorce from his wife by the Pope. During this period, England was preparing to start a war with France and Spain, which was the political reason for the debunking of Catholicism.

The King of England declared the church national and decided to lead it, subjugating the clergy. In 1534, Parliament announced the introduction of independence of the church from the Pope. All monasteries in the country were closed, their property was transferred to state power to replenish the treasury. However, Catholic rituals were preserved.

Fundamentals of the Anglican Faith

There are few books that are a symbol of the Protestant religion in England. All of them were compiled in an era of confrontation between two religions in search of a compromise between Rome and reformism in Europe.

The basis of Anglican Protestantism is the work of M. Luther, edited by T. Cranmer, “The Augsbrugg Confession” entitled “39 Articles” (1571), as well as the “Book of Prayer,” which contains the order of worship. Its latest edition was approved in 1661 and remains a symbol of the unity of adherents of this faith. The Anglican Catechism did not adopt its final version until 1604.

Anglicanism, in comparison with other areas of Protestantism, turned out to be closest to Catholic traditions. The Bible is also considered the basis of its doctrine, services are held in English, and the need for intermediaries between God and man, whom only his religious conviction can save, is rejected.

Zwinglianism

One of the leaders of the Reformation in Switzerland was Ulrich Zwingli. Having received a master's degree in art, from 1518 he served as a priest in Zurich and then as a city council. After becoming acquainted with E. Rotterdamsky and his writings, Zwingli came to the decision to begin his own reform activities. His idea was to proclaim the independence of the flock from the power of bishops and the pope, especially demanding the abolition of the vow of celibacy among Catholic priests.

The teachings of Zwingli (1484-1531) have many similarities with the Lutheran concepts of Protestantism, recognizing as truth only what is confirmed by the Holy Scriptures. Everything that distracts the believer from self-absorption, and everything sensual, must necessarily be removed from the temple. Because of this, music and painting were banned in the city's churches, and biblical sermons were introduced instead. Hospitals and schools were established in monasteries closed during the Reformation. At the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th centuries, this movement merged with Calvinism.

Baptistism

Another direction of Protestantism, which arose already in the 17th century in England, was called “Baptism.” The Bible is also considered the basis of the teaching; salvation for believers can only come with redemptive faith in Jesus Christ. In Baptistism, great importance is attached to “spiritual rebirth”, which occurs when the Holy Spirit influences a person.

Adherents of this movement of Protestantism practice the sacrament of baptism and communion: they are considered symbolic rites that help to unite spiritually with Christ. The difference from other religious teachings is the rite of catechism, which everyone who wants to join the community undergoes during a probationary period of 1 year, followed by baptism. All cult achievements take place quite modestly. The building of the house of worship does not at all look like a religious building; it also lacks all religious symbols and objects.

Baptistism is widespread in the world and in Russia, with 72 million believers.

Adventism

It emerged from the Baptist movement in the 30s of the 19th century. The main feature of Adventism is the expectation of the coming of Jesus Christ, which should happen soon. The teaching contains an eschatological concept of the imminent destruction of the world, after which the kingdom of Christ will be established on the new earth for 1000 years. Moreover, all people will die, and only Adventists will be resurrected.

The movement gained popularity under the new name "Seventh-day Adventists", which proclaimed a holiday on Saturdays and a "sanitary reform" necessary for the believer's body for the subsequent resurrection. Bans have been introduced on certain products: pork, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, etc.

In modern Protestantism, the process of merging and the birth of new movements continues, some of which acquire church status (Pentecostals, Methodists, Quakers, etc.). This religious movement became widespread not only in European countries, but also in the USA, where the centers of many Protestant denominations (Baptists, Adventists, etc.) settled.

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, and 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. The basis of the doctrine of each Protestant community, as well as the basis of the norms of worship and worship of God, is the uniquely interpreted revealed teaching set forth in the Holy Scriptures, mainly in the canonical Books of the New Testament.

Protestantism was formed during the Reformation, in the 16th century. The reason for the start of the reform movements was the dissatisfaction of individual representatives of the Roman Catholic Church with abuses on the part of its pastorate, and above all by 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 took place 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 vehemently condemned the trade in indulgences, but he did not deny the legality and effectiveness of indulgences, but only the abuses in issuing them. His 71st thesis read: “Whoever speaks against the truth of papal absolution – let him be anathematized and cursed.”

Other founders of Protestantism, in addition to 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, the consubstantiality of the Divine Persons, and 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 Protestants agreed with the Orthodox (or even 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 the Orthodox Church as the only true and saving one, Protestants, partially or completely, deny the church hierarchy (clergy), the Sacraments, the authority of the Holy Tradition, on the basis of which not only the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, but also liturgical practice is built, 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 sole and self-interpreting source of doctrine. Every believer has the right to interpret the Bible. However, even the first Protestant Martin Luther noted: “The devil himself can quote the Bible with great benefit to himself.” Evidence of the recklessness of striving to understand the Bible only with one’s own fallen mind is the ever-increasing fragmentation of Protestantism into many movements. After all, even 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 sacred rites. Protestants deny their significance as a source of salvation for the soul, considering them the inevitable fruits of faith and evidence of forgiveness.

3. Sola gratia – “By grace alone.”

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 a mediator between God and people, believing that believers represent a “universal priesthood.”

5. Soli Deo gloria – “Only God be the glory”

Considering that Protestantism is not a single religious movement, but is fragmented into many particular ones, the above comments apply to different Protestant communities to varying degrees. Thus, Lutherans and Anglicans recognize the need for hierarchy, although not in the form in which it is present in the Orthodox Church. The attitude towards the sacraments in different communities is not the same: it differs both in the actual 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. Attitudes towards the Mother of God vary greatly depending on the creed adopted in a particular “church”. Attitudes to personal salvation also vary greatly: from the belief that all who believe in Christ will be saved, to the belief that only those who are predestined to this will be saved.

Orthodoxy implies a living, active perception by a Christian of Divine grace, due to which everything becomes a mysterious union of God and man, and the temple with its Sacraments is a real place of such union. The living experience of the action of Divine grace does not allow for the limitation of the Sacraments or their perverted interpretation, as well as the belittlement 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 Mennoniteism, and Anglicanism. Subsequently, a number of movements emerged, 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 are located. Protestant movements play a major role in the ecumenical movement.

The theology of Protestantism went through a number of stages in its development. This is the orthodox theology of the 16th century. (M. Luther, J. Calvin), non-Protestant or liberal theology of the 18th – 19th centuries. (F. Schleiermacher, E. Troeltsch, A. Harnack), “crisis theology” or dialectical theology that appeared after the First World War (C. Barth, P. Tillich, R. Bultmann), radical or “new” theology that spread after World War II (D. Bonhoeffer).

One of the three, along with Catholicism and Orthodoxy, main directions of Christianity. Protestantism is a collection of numerous and independent churches and sects, connected only by their origin.

The emergence of Protestantism is associated with the Reformation, a powerful anti-church movement in the 16th century in Europe. In 1526, the Speyer Reichstag, at the request of the German Lutheran princes, adopted a resolution on the right of everyone to choose a religion for themselves and their subjects. The Second Reichstag of Speyr in 1529 overturned this decree. In response, there was a protest from the five princes and a number of imperial cities, from which the term “Protestantism” comes. Protestantism shares common Christian ideas about the existence of God, his trinity, the immortality of the soul, hell and heaven, however, rejecting the Catholic idea of ​​purgatory. At the same time, Protestantism put forward three new principles: salvation by personal faith, the priesthood of all believers, and the exclusive authority of the Holy Scriptures.

Protestantism categorically rejects the Holy Tradition as unreliable and concentrates all dogma in the Holy Scripture, which is considered the only holy book in the world. Protestantism requires believers to read the Bible daily. In Protestantism, the fundamental difference between priest and layman has been removed, and the church hierarchy has been abolished. The clergyman is deprived of the right to confess and absolve sins; he is accountable to the Protestant community.

In Protestantism, many sacraments have been abolished (with the exception of baptism and communion), and celibacy is absent. Prayer for the dead, worship of saints and holidays in honor of saints, veneration of relics and icons are rejected. Houses of worship have been cleared of altars, icons, statues, and bells. There are no monasteries or monasticism.
Worship in Protestantism is simplified as much as possible and reduced to preaching, prayer and singing psalms and hymns in the native language. The Bible is recognized as the only source of doctrine, and sacred tradition is rejected.

The formation of most movements of Protestantism took place under the idea of ​​religious revival in the form of revivalism.

Protestantism is divided into early, including:

Anabaptism
- Anglicanism
- Calvinism
- Lutheranism
- Mennonism
- Socinianism
- Unitarianism
- Zwinglianism

And the later one, including:

Adventism
- Salvation Army
- baptism
- Quakerism
- methodism
- Mormonism
- Pentecostalism
- Jehovah's Witnesses

Christian Science

Currently, Protestantism is most widespread in the Scandinavian countries, the USA, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Modern Protestant churches created the World Council of Churches in 1948.