The main difference between Calvinism and Arminianism lies in different approaches to the solution of the problem of the relation of providentialism and freedom of human freedom. This problem finds in theology its direct reflection in the soteriology, that is, the doctrine of salvation. In practice, however, it goes beyond these limits, since it reflects the attitude of man to the outside world, is the cornerstone of human world understanding, motivates its behavior. Therefore, it is understandable that interest in this (...) topic during the entire existence of mankind, which found its embodiment in various theological and philosophical systems. Due to the fact that baptism plays a significant role in religious processes in Ukraine, occupying officially the fourth place in the number of its communities, uniting about 150 thousand believers, the issue of the issue in its teaching is also of interest. This is all the more since the theological views of a particular religious group are clearly reflected in the practical behavior of its supporters. (shrink)

Last year, the anniversary of all Christianity, witnessed a number of significant events caused by a new interest in understanding the problem of the unity of the Christian Church on the turn of the millennium. Due to the confidentiality of Ukraine, some of these events have or will have an immediate impact on Christianity in Ukraine and on the whole Ukrainian society as a whole. Undoubtedly, the main event, or more enlightened in the press, is a new impetus to the (...) unification of the UOC-KP and the UAOC. But we would like to focus on two documents relating to the problem of Christian unity, the emergence of which was almost unnoticed by the wider public. But at the same time, these documents are too important as they outline the future policy of other Christian denominations by two influential Ukrainian christian churches - the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. These are the "Basic Principles of the attitude of the Russian Orthodox Church to the" I ", adopted by the Anniversary Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Concept of the Ecumenical Position of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, adopted by the Synod of the Bishops of the UGCC. It is clear that the theme of the second document is wider, but at the same time, ecumenism, unification is impossible without solving the problem of relations with others, which makes it possible to compare the approaches laid down in the mentioned documents to the building of relations with other Christian confessions. (shrink)

On June 9, 2005, during a roundtable meeting "With love and concern for children", the President of Ukraine instructed the Ministry of Education to develop a special course for a new subject for comprehensive schools - the ethics of faith. At the same time, he set a task for the Ministry from September 1 to start teaching this course in schools, expressing confidence that the Ministry of Education "will have time to work on this issue in two to three months". (...) He noted that “it is a question of God, of faith in one form or another: it does not aim to unilaterally cover this issue. The general approaches of all churches should be taken. ". (shrink)

Exploring the history of the Baptist movement in Ukraine and Russia, one can see two contradictory trends inherent in the internal development of this movement: the tendency to unite and the tendency towards separatism. These tendencies are dominated by one another, then they develop in parallel, restraining one another. Another VS Solovyov noted that Protestants, unlike Catholics, have an idea of ​​salvation in "small ships", which leads to separate tendencies in Protestantism. These tendencies find their theological substantiation in principle of (...) independence or autonomy of each separate Baptist community, which is one of the fundamental principles of the practical life of Baptist churches. The autonomy of each community consists in the fact that no organizational, administrative or governing authority over the community exists, that is, the community itself determines its confession and the issue of church discipline. (shrink)

The study of the current state and tendencies of the development of the traditional trends of late Protestantism in Ukraine - Baptism, Adventism and Pentecostalism, as well as Jehovah's Witnesses during 1999-2005 made it possible, in our opinion, to be scientifically valuable and relevant to the public in these confessions. generalizations and conclusions. At the same time, in our study, they have both a universal character for all four of these denominations, as well as a specific context in the form (...) of an extended analysis of the nature of theological, doctrinal, institutionalization changes that have taken place in the past 15 years in particular in Ukrainian Baptism and the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. Adventism was preserved somewhat during this period. (shrink)