The Methodist movement originated in the 18th century from the depths of Anglicanism as a desire to reform the official Anglican Church without altering its teaching. The movement’s main goal was to put into practice the principles of Christian morality. The 200 years of break-up with Rome and constant religious wars had an adverse effect on the religious and moral fabric of society, whose mores and customs were at a very low level at the beginning of the 18th century. In the ‘30s of the 18th century, the Archbishop of Canterbury painfully confessed that the Church was being openly mocked by worldly circles, scientists and members of the aristocracy, while priests were being ridiculed without hesitation. In these difficult times for the Anglican Church, a fiery young theologian from Oxford University, John Wesley, together with a group of like-minded friends, formed a circle of devotees of pious life – “The Holy Club,” – whose goal was to live according to the Gospel, engaging in fasting, prayer and good deeds, conscientiously following the established “method” (hence – the Methodists). For six years Wesley lectured at Oxford and chaired public discussions. He proclaimed himself a follower of Luther in “justification by faith” and became a wandering preacher of piety. Soon Wesley was excommunicated from the Church. He then created his “joint society,” in which all lay people – irrespective of gender or social position – were allowed to preach. In 1741, due to a difference of opinion concerning the teaching on pre-determination (i.e. the belief that some people are preeternally destined by God for salvation and others for perdition), the Methodists divided into two streams. In England they accept the participation of man’s will and freedom in the matter of his salvation, while in America they follow the teaching on unconditional pre-determination.

Dogmatically Methodism is close to Anglicanism and believes in the need for good deeds, but demands neither unity of opinion, nor of worshipping God, but solely demands the fear of God and the doing of good. The Methodist Church has kept the ranks of bishop, priest, and deacon. The priests perform the sacrament of communion independently, while deacons have the right to “bless” marriages, perform baptisms, and assist during communion.

The Methodists have a serious attitude towards Christ’s commandments, their faithful are well-organized, and their missionary activity is vigorous. Their communities are divided into “circles” and “classes.” The classes gather every week, and there they discuss the spiritual state of each member, with people exchanging spiritual experiences. The Methodists do not shun any kind of work, pay a great deal of attention to their children, fight against the violation of the Sunday rest; they are also against flighty amusements, wastefulness and drunkenness. In America they number 12 million members. Like all other Protestants, they do not worship the Holy Virgin Mary and the saints. They give their children the most bizarre names. They do not venerate icons, while symbolism and church architecture are foreign to them.

In 1520, there arose in Saxony the sect of the “Anabaptists,” which received its name from its members’ custom of rebaptizing all who joined the community. This sect began to put into practice the principle of freedom, understanding it not only as religious freedom, but also social and political freedom, and did not hesitate to use tyrannical and violent measures to achieve it. Basing themselves on this principle of freedom, the Anabaptists began to overthrow existing authorities and social structures, and to establish full equality in the use of property and even in the commonality of wives. This sect represented a revolutionary sociopolitical organization operating under the cover of religion.

The activity of this sect and the appeals of its preachers led to armed revolts, killings and looting. In the city of Munster, a certain baker proclaimed himself king, and the city began to be called “New Jerusalem,” while the kingdom was called “New Zion.” Twenty-eight “apostles” were sent out to subjugate all people to its power. For the sake of equality in education, the baker ordered all libraries to be burned and all works of art to be destroyed. Christian churches were also destroyed, and the clergy and prominent citizens were murdered. This all ended in 1535 with an armed seizure of the town and subsequent executions. Anabaptism went into a decline, but was partially revived by Mennon, a former Catholic priest who became an Anabaptist. He introduced strict discipline, kept the rebaptism, forbad the taking of oaths, going into civil or military service, or going to court. Mennonites exist in Holland, Russia, England, and America, and they are otherwise noted for strict morality, honesty, and hard work.

This is an American sect, founded in 1830, which currently numbers about 2.5 million people, with the majority of them living in the state of Utah, and the remainder in Canada, England, Switzerland, and New Zealand.

Joseph Smith, founder of the sect, wrote the “Book of Mormons,” which they look upon as “holy scripture,” an addendum to the Bible. The book contains a fantastic story of how in 600 B.C. a group of Jews emigrated to the United States. Afterwards the less cultured part of the Jews turned into primitives and became the ancestors of the Native Indians. The second, more cultured, part of the Jews built cities, promoted the progress of knowledge, and was visited by Jesus Christ. His teaching was supposedly recorded on golden tablets by the “prophet” Mormon. His son, Moroni, copied these tables and buried them in the ground. In 400 A.D. the first group of Jews destroyed the second, while 1,400 years later Moroni arose from the dead and gave the tablets to Smith (although the tablets supposedly disappeared again!). Based on these tablets, Smith wrote his book with rules on how the Mormons should live. The teaching of this sect has very little in common with Christianity and even with Protestantism. The Mormons have strict discipline, forbid the use of alcohol, coffee and tobacco, and their family and social lives are well-organized. They live in financially excellent circumstances, helping each other materially. The Mormons are required to donate one-tenth of their earnings to their church. Initially they allowed polygamy, but it is now forbidden in the United States. Their missionary activity is greatly developed. They venerate their Book of Mormons on a par with the Bible, and they worship Joseph Smith, the founder of their sect, on a par with the prophet Moses and even our Lord Jesus Christ.