MONITORING THE ATTITUDE OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH TO SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS IN UKRAINE

Abstract

Orthodox believers have been found to be prejudiced against Protestants, including Adventists. On the one hand, adherents of Orthodoxy see Adventism as a foreign (foreign) religious element, whose members level the millennial traditions of the dominant Church in Ukraine. On the other hand, it is believed that this denomination, combining in its doctrinal system certain elements of the teachings of the Baptist and Jewish religions, has become a religious platform for the spread of heretical ideas among Orthodox Christians. Moreover, religious antagonism on the part of Orthodoxy is also manifested in the terminology still used by Orthodox believers when referring to Protestants, including and Adventists by “sects” or “sectarians”. It is stated that mutual intolerance and religious antagonism can be explained by differences in worldviews and religious competition. Although in the context of world religious tolerance among scholars of the world's leading countries, such terminology to recognized Protestant denominations is unacceptable and discriminatory. However, the authors also cite positive references and responses in the media about Adventists from Orthodoxy. A positive aspect of Adventists is a thorough doctrinal system that is stable, systematic, and publicized. But the most positive response from Orthodoxy was given by Adventist teachings on the principles of a healthy lifestyle.