From the point of view of Protestantism, a believer is a person who is aware of the sinfulness of his nature. And this is enough for him to turn directly to God with a prayer for his salvation. Prayer for salvation must be confirmed by the conscientious performance of one’s worldly duties, for by the degree of such conscientiousness God judges the strength of faith and the desire for salvation. As rightly shown by M. Weber, Protestantism is characterized by the consideration of the worldly activities of man from the standpoint of religious vocation. The concept of “vocation” contains such a meaning that the fulfillment of a person’s duty in the framework of his worldly activities is the highest task of religious and moral life. Thus, all spheres of human activity receive religious significance and are considered as diverse forms of service to God.

From the doctrine of the fundamental corruption of human nature and its justification by faith alone in the atoning sacrifice of Christ, a very important provision of the Protestant doctrine of predestination follows. From the point of view of Protestantism, every person, even before his birth, as they say

“in Adam,” already predestined to be saved or perish. No one knows or can know their fate. There is only circumstantial evidence as to what kind of lot a person got. And these indirect testimonies are related to his faith and the fulfillment of his calling. Deep faith in the saving sacrifice of Christ is not the merit of man, but the gift of divine grace. A person who has received this gift can hope that he is chosen for salvation. The realization of a vocation is also not the merit of a person. The successful conduct of his business is a sign of God’s favor for him. The most consistent form of this teaching is represented in Calvinism.

Protestantism, rejecting the dogma of the saving role of the Church, thereby greatly simplified and reduced the cost of religious activities. Worship is reduced mainly to prayer, preaching, singing Psalms, hymns, and reading the Bible. The Bible is read in the native language. Of the seven sacraments, the Protestants left only two: baptism and communion. Prayers for the dead, worship of saints and numerous festivals in their honor, veneration of relics and icons were rejected. Religious buildings-temples, houses of worship to a large extent

freed from the magnificent decoration, from altars, icons, statues. The bells have been removed from them.

Lutheranism.

Historically, the first and one of the largest varieties of Protestantism by number of followers is Lutheranism or the Evangelical Church. Currently, 75 million people belong to it. Lutheranism is formed as an independent religion and religious organization in the Northern German principalities as a result of the so-called “Augsburg religious world”. This peace was concluded on 25 September 1555 at the Augsburg Reichstag by an agreement between The Holy Roman Emperor

empires by Charles V and Protestant princes. He established the complete autonomy of the princes in matters of religion and their right to determine the religion of their subjects, based on the principle of “whose country, that and faith.” This provided for the right to resettle those people who do not want to accept imposed on him eroevedanie. Since that time Lutheranism has received official recognition and gained the right to be a leader-

a sacred religion.