Christian culture in Ukrainian society: futurological prospects

authors: Svitlana Bilous, Maria Novosad, Bohdan Rokhman, Lilia Borysevych

Urgency of the research. Christian culture has a strong spiritual and humanistic potential, so it is important to analyze its development trends in the spiritual space of Ukrainian people.

Target setting. Ukrainian society asks questions about the essence and significance of traditional Christian values in modern conditions. In this study we present a prospective vision of Christian culture in Ukraine.

Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. Studying the prospects of Christian culture in Ukrainian society, we rely on research periodicals. Areas of research that formed the basis of the study of specified problem: historical retrospective of the role of Christianity in Ukraine (M. Popovych, V. Zilhalov, D. Kondyuk, L. Babenko, I. Ostrovska, M. Panochko, I. Skochylyas); secularization and religiousness (L. Filipovych, O. Bas); features of the development of Christianity at the stages of modernism and postmodernism (O. Tupyk, M. Cherenkov); prospects for the development of Christianity (T. Halik, E. Hermanova de Dias); prospects for the development of certain areas of Christian culture (E. Cherneha, E. Baklanova, H. Vyshyvana); characteristic features of the religious (Christian) culture of the future (I. Kapritsyn, O. Borysova).

Objective of the article: outlining the achievements and highlighting the prospects for the development of Christian culture in terms of religious freedom, ideological pluralism, secularization and other social challenges of Ukraine.

Set tasks: identification of the main directions of Christian culture in their historical retrospective in Ukrainian society; noting the preconditions of the postmodern perception of Christianity; outlining futurological tendencies of Christian culture in Ukraine.

The statement of basic materials begins with an analysis of the perception problem of the study of Christian ethics in school at the present stage. The study of the basics of Christian ethics is perceived by the authors as one of the foundations for the development of Christian culture. The study notes the historical role of Christianity for many areas of society’s culture. The features of the formation of the secularized worldview in Ukraine and its role for the modern worldview as well as the position of Christianity are pointed out. The potential opportunities for Christian Ukrainian-centric denominations and their influence on the worldview of Ukrainians are also noted; the areas and spheres of culture which will define futurological prospects of Christianity are outlined.

Conclusion. Christian culture has deep traditions and significance in Ukraine and at the present stage is characterized as organic, dominant and is demanded by most Ukrainians. The postmodern period of Ukrainian society contains secularizatory narratives. However, the processes that take place in Christian organizations indicate trends in the development of churches and Christian spirituality. The main areas that will positively influence the future of Christian culture are sacred art, educational institutions, the media sphere, everyday spiritual practices, customs, traditions, etc.

Prospects for further research are the analysis of factors and directions for development of Christian culture of the postmodern period in Ukraine.

Key words: futurology of religion; culture, secularization; Christian culture; Ukrainian society.

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