In the 70-80-ies of the twentieth century in Europe and the United States decreased the membership of Protestant churches that adhere to the liberal orientation (Episcopal, Presbyterian). At the same time, fundamentalists, Evangelical denominations, and especially communities focused on the personal religious experience of rebirth and the gifts of the Holy spirit, especially Pentecostals, have greatly increased their numbers and influence. Since the late 60s, organizations such as the national Association of evangelists have been developing and consolidating in the 70s. Using the mass media on a large scale, especially televangelism, fundamentalist ideologists advocate a literal understanding of the Bible, creationism (doctrines about scientific evidence of the existence of God, divinely directed development, denying Darwin’s theory of evolution and some other scientific ideas), the doctrine of personal faith, rebirth, sanctification, the gifts of the Holy spirit, birth again, freedom of enterprise and competition, Protestant ethics of personal success, the values of family and social order.

34. Islam is a General characteristic. 5 pillars of faith in Islam. 4 first caliphs. The Quran, the Sunnah, the Sharia. The ka’bah, the shrines. The Mekteb, medrese. Islamic holiday. Islamic clergy. Sunnism. Sunnism and Shiism in Islam.

Islam is the second most followed world religion. Islam is practiced by about 860 million people in more than 120 countries. In 28 countries, Islam is recognized as the state or official religion (Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, etc.), the Vast majority of Muslims live in Western, southern, South-East Asia and North Africa. In our country, the followers of Islam are the second largest ethnic and religious group and live mainly on the territory of Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, and the republics of the North Caucasus. There are large Muslim communities in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other regions of Russia.

Islam is a relatively young world religion. It appeared at the beginning of the VII century ad on the Arabian Peninsula. This territory was inhabited by Arab tribes, whose primary occupation was cattle breeding. At the same time, at that time a caravan route passed through the territory of West Africa, which led to the appearance of such large cities as Mecca, Yasrib (future Medina), TAIF. Trade relations promoted active communication with different peoples and religions

The emergence of Islam is subject to the General laws of the formation of world religions Islam begins to be formed on the basis of the tribal cult of one of the most influential tribes of Western Arabia — the Quraysh, whose religious and administrative center was located in Mecca. The tribal God of the Meccan Quraysh was Allah (Arab. al-Ilah). As soon as the Quraish have brought under his influence neighboring tribes and the population of nearby cities, God Krasickiego tribe began to displace the gods less powerful and influential tribes. In General, the socio-cultural situation of that time contributed to the formation of monotheism.

However, this process of forming a monotheistic religion did not take place automatically. The decisive impulse was given to it by a real historical person-the prophet Muhammad (CA. 570-632). Muhammad came from a kureish tribe, was orphaned early, worked as a shepherd, then married a rich widow and became a merchant in Mecca. Soon he gave up trading and in 610 he preached a monotheistic religion, which he called Islam (translated from Arabic means “submission”, “surrender to God”). Followers of Islam-Muslims- “submissive”. Muhammad declared that there is only one great Allah and that all must submit to his will and serve him in anticipation of the end of the world, the day of judgment and the establishment of the Kingdom of justice and peace on Earth. Muhammad’s sermons also included demands for social justice, brotherhood of believers, the provision of charity by the rich to the poor, condemnation of usury, and the need to observe simple standards of morality.