«Другие» протестанты — смена религиозной идентичности

Abstract

In this article, the author attempts to reveal some aspects related to the transformation of the confessional identity of members of Protestant religious organizations operating in the Southern, Middle and Polar Urals and identifying themselves as representatives of “other” ethnic groups that are not widespread in Russia. The article presents data on the confessional identity of the respondents and on the factors that contributed to their adoption of Protestant Christianity. The research materials allow us to conclude that the religious identity (or lack of it) of the respondents before coming to Protestantism is close to that of the respondents from the general sample in the Urals; most of all among the “other” Protestants were atheists or non-denominational theists who “simply” believed in God. Most of all, both among “other” Protestants and among believers from the general sample of those who came to Protestantism with the assistance of close people who enjoy the greatest trust: friends, parents, relatives and spouses. Domestic and foreign missionaries, as well as members of religious communities personally unknown to the respondent, played an insignificant role in the religious choice of the respondents from both samples. The data presented in the article demonstrate that the confessional affiliation (or lack of it) of the respondents before they adopted Protestantism, as well as the factors contributing to the acquisition of their religious identity by Protestants, do not depend on ethnic identity.