REFORMATION DOCTRINE AND POLITICAL VALUES: HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS (ON THE EXAMPLE OF LATE PROTESTANTISM IN UKRAINE)

Abstract

The purpose the research is to determine the characteristics of political ethics in the reformation doctrine using the example of late Protestantism history in Ukraine. The research methodology is based on: general scientific methods (analytical, synthetic, paradigmatic, holistic), general historical (system chronological, historical and comparative), sociological method (content analysis). The scientific novelty consists in the fact that for the first time there has been made the attempt of a comprehensive analysis of the external factors influence on the political ethics of Protestants on the history example of the Protestantism in Ukraine during the 20th – beginning of the 21st century in modern Ukrainian historiography and philosophical science. The Conclusions. The Reformation Doctrine was formed 500 years ago. It passed the test of time during this period. Having examined political ethics as a separate component of the doctrine, the authors of the article came to the conclusion that its key points were formed during the period of early Protestantism and have remained unchanged up to this day. Expressive specificity is the reaction to the historical conditions of existence and demonstration of ethno-confessional differences. Genesis of Protestants in Soviet Ukraine is an example. Referring to the biblical thesis “All authority comes from God”, the Protestants accepted all the slogans of the Soviet power. At their congresses, they even approved a military service. Afterwards the atheistic experiment in the Ukrainian SSR gained momentum and the representatives of theomachistic authorities resorted to repressions, in the society with a dominant hostile worldview believers tried to use various survival strategies starting with the insistent demands of communities registration ending with sit-in strikes and emigration attempts to “any non-socialist country”. The Christians came to the conclusion that power from God also serves a good cause. The Protestants in modern Ukraine entered a political life slowly. Evangelical Christians most clearly demonstrate solidarity with public sentiments (participation in the Orange Revolution, the Revolution of Dignity, chaplaincy service). In the modern Protestant milieu, a blind submission to any authority is questioned therefore changes are made to pacifist sentiments and prerequisites for the formation of socio-political theology arise. Of particular values are the categories of truth, freedom and responsibility (which is the manifestation of ethno-confessional differences), and non-cult services are organized in compliance with orthodoxy and orthopraxy.

Keywords: reformation doctrine, political ethics, late Protestantism, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, modern Ukraine, orthodoxy, orthopraxy.