Philosophy of Protestant Religious Education in Ukraine

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive socio-philosophical and anthropological analysis of the formation and development of Protestant religious education in Ukraine, spanning from the early years of independence to the period of the full-scale war. The study examines the transformation of the educational model: from its initial forms of catechesis, biblical training, and internal church instruction to the formation of an extensive system of higher theological institutions. These institutions perform not only denominational and educational tasks but also cultural-creative, worldview-shaping, and socially consolidating functions. It is argued that Protestant religious education in Ukraine has gradually evolved into a vital space for the intellectual interpretation of social processes, the moral upbringing of the individual, and the training of responsible leadership for both church and civic environments. The axiological dimension of the study encompasses an analysis of the fundamental principles of Protestant educational thought, with a particular focus on the priority of Holy Scripture, freedom of conscience, personal responsibility before God and society, and the ethics of labor as a form of calling and service. It is established that within the Protestant educational tradition, knowledge is viewed not as a self-sufficient value but as a means of moral improvement, service to oneʼs neighbor, and the practical implementation of Christian convictions in public life. The scientific novelty of the article lies in highlighting the role of Protestant religious education as a factor of national resilience during the war. It is demonstrated that in the contemporary Ukrainian context, this education transcends purely denominational training and actively contributes to the formation of civic consciousness. The article analyzes the deepening worldview reorientation of Ukrainian Protestantism, which, during the war period, has increasingly distanced itself from alien imperial and supranational models, integrating more firmly into the Ukrainian national, cultural, and social landscape. The study concludes that Protestant religious education in Ukraine is a significant factor in the moral recovery of society and the formation of a mature civic stance.