INFLUENCE OF THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR ON PROTESTANT SOTERIOLOGY

Abstract

The article deals with one of the key issues of Christianity – the doctrine of salvation. It is found that soteriology is the science of salvation of the human soul. It is investigated that the soteriological doctrine significantly differs among Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox. The article analyzes the ancient origins of the doctrine of salvation. Today, soteriology not only does not lose its relevance, but also gains a new large-scale significance in the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war. It is proved that the doctrine of salvation is one of the fundamental in dogmatic theology. Respectively, it is not subject to additions and modification. However, it is determined that the Russian- Ukrainian war affected not only most of the existential processes of the Ukrainian people being and the European continent as a whole, but also modern soteriology. This is due to the fact that an essential feature of this war is its religious coloring and justification. The article states that the official theological teaching unequivocally condemns war as a manifestation of murder – a mortal sin. It is found that in the modern circumstances of social uncertainty and existential challenges the doctrine of salvation is changing. Revaluation of modern values and human being takes place. The article analyzes one of the latest documents of the Russian All-People's Council – «The Order». It contains provisions of «holy war» and its doctrine. The document indicates the fundamental changes in the soteriological teaching of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is the largest Orthodox confession in the world. It is determined that as a result of Russian aggression, millions of Ukrainian citizens found themselves in a state of existential threat and social uncertainty. Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes, a large part of them sought refuge in Western European countries. The study draws attention to the new paradigm of the existence of Christians, and in particular representatives of Protestantism, in the world. It is noted that classical Christian soteriology is no longer a universal paradigm of soul salvation. The study boils down to the question of the possibility of saving the soul in a secularized society and under the Russian war. Protestantism, like other Christian confessions, adjust certain provisions of soteriology to modern conditions of existence in the world.