SOCIAL FORMS CREATED OR MODIFIED BY PROTESTANTISM IN THE 16TH - FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURIES. AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the social forms created or changed by Protestantism in the 16th – first half of the 19th centuries. It is shown that Protestantism not only used the old social forms, but also created new ones that formed the basis of a new type of Western society – civil society. An overview of already existing social forms is given: agricultural communes, representative assemblies and professional corporations, parties, schools and universities, church communities. The agricultural commune became the lot of closed groups that created their own mini-society. Noble and city assemblies, professional associations including informal associations of clergy (contubernias), parties became a platform for Lutherans and Calvinists. Protestant schools performed not only an educational but also a missionary function, universities were used to train pastors and preachers and to form a Protestant intellectual elite. The Protestant church community gave rise to such social forms as small home groups, colleges, commissions and committees. Educational and discussion clubs were actively used by Calvinists during the Dutch and English revolutions. The social creativity of the Protestants was intended to strengthen Protestantism in society and to promote the creation of a “new human” brought up in the Protestant doctrine.