Adventism. Representatives of one of the relatively new trends in Protestantism are seventh-day Adventists, whose teachings date back to the 1830s, when a certain W. Miller stated his views on the future of mankind, predicting the imminent arrival of the day of judgment. According to Adventist beliefs, which practically deny the traditional Christian doctrine by accepting only two rites of the sacred sacraments, there is no immortal soul. After the death of a person, the soul plunges into a state of stupor, which continues until the day of judgment, when the souls awakened by the risen Christ will be divided into those who deserve heavenly bliss, and those who are condemned to eternal hell torments. Unconditional salvation awaits the souls of those who are followers of the Adventist doctrine, observing all its rules and ethical standards. The only sacred text for Adventists is the Bible. Most of the adherents of this trend live in the United States, although active missionary activity leads to the emergence of Adventist communities in many countries, including Russia.

Pentecostalism became one of the most recent, but nevertheless influential branches of Protestantism, which was developed in the United States at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. the Basis of the doctrine of this Protestant movement is the belief that on the fiftieth day after the resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, who opened their prophetic abilities. The strong mystical orientation of Pentecostalism is manifested in the presence of elements of great emotional excitement and ecstasy in the rite of baptism, which is recognized by representatives of this doctrine,which, in their opinion, is the key to the descent of the Holy spirit into the soul of a new believer. The mystical experience of the presence of divine grace, which can descend into the soul of a sincere believer, is the basis of the Pentecostal doctrine of the intuitive way of knowing the deity. From an administrative point of view, many Pentecostal communities have a strict hierarchy – from the presbyter, who is the absolute spiritual authority within the individual community, to the simple parishioners.

28. Luther and Lutheranism.

Martin Luther became the leader of the religious revolution. Deeply religious by nature, he soon after graduating from the University of Erfurt was tonsured as an Augustinian monk (1505). In 1509 he took the chair of philosophy at the University of Wittenberg, but then defended his theological thesis, became a doctor of theology and moved to the Department of theology. At the same time he preached in the Church and had great success in this. In 1510, Luther made a business trip to Rome and was shocked by the frivolous manners there.

Luther’s first public speech against ecclesiastical politics took place in 1517 — he publicly and fiercely condemned the trade in indulgences, then nailed 95 theses to the Church doors stating his position. This move caused a wave of solidarity, supported by the Saxon elector Frederick the Wise and quickly spread throughout Germany. Luther was summoned to Rome, but his supporters advised him not to go there. A series of persuasions, threats, and disputes followed from Rome. At the Leipzig debate in 1519, Luther expanded his criticism by questioning the primacy of the Pope and the Roman Church. He was supported by Philip Melanchthon, the future codifier of Protestantism[3].

The papal decree forbidding further controversy was ignored. Luther wrote and published three temperamentally written books in which he outlined his program:

Throw off the papal yoke from Germany.

Abolish priesthood, monasticism, and ecclesiastical land ownership.

To reduce the sacraments to the two directly mentioned in the Gospels: baptism and communion. In particular, to abolish the mass and the cult of saints as idolatry: God does not need intermediaries. Open free access to the Bible.

Do away with the secular power of the Church and abuses like indulgences.

Open confrontation began in 1520. The Pope issued the bull “Exsurge Domine”, in which he excommunicated Luther from the Church and cursed him. Elector Friedrich rejected the bull, and Luther pointedly burned it in the presence and with the approval of the professors and residents of Wittenberg.