Tavi 3 konfesiata urtiertoba saqartvelosi monokonfesiuri da monoetniuri saxelmwifo ar arsebobs, arc eri (am sityvis Tanamedrove politikis gagebit). amitom erovnebata da armsareblobata urtier- Tobis problema yvela qveynis winase dgas, radgan religiurobis kultura anu rwmenis eqspresiis (gamovlinebis) normebi, ise rogorc urtiertobata sxva formebi, daxvewili da srulyofili arsad araa. ase iyo Zvelad da asea axla. satanado magalitebi winamdebare wignsic moipoveba. mkitxveli, albat, im bunebriv faqtsac SeniSnavda, rom gamonaklisi arc saqartveloa. saistorio wyaroebi, rogorc qartuli, ise berznuli, latinuri da somxuri, mowmobs, rom religiur niadagze dapirispirebebs aqac hqonda adgili. cnobilia, sxvadasxva dros da sxvadasxva sazogadoebriv garemosi, Sexla-Semoxlani monofizitebsa da diofizitebs, martlmadideblebsa da katolikebs da sxvebs Sorisac rogorc armosavlet, ise dasavlet saqartvelosi. religiuri Tu nebismieri sxva saxis antagonizmi Tumca wutisoflis ganuyreli nawilia, man saqartvelosi bolo dros gansakutrebit mzafri xasiati gamoavlina, razec sainformacio sasualebebi TiTqmis yovel dre ityobinebian. SemaSfoTebelia ara is, rom Cvens politikur elitasi, inteligenciasa Tu sasuliero uwyebasi eqstremistuli Zalebi arseboben da musaoben, aramed mati gavlena mosaxleobis arc Tu umnisvnelo raodenobaze. erti SexedviT es aralogikuri da paradoqsulia, Tu Cveni qveynis konstitucias, demokratiul struqturas da, amastanave, Cveni sazogadoebriobis didi nawilis pretenziebs gavitvaliswinebt qartveli eris civilizebulobaze, humanurobasa da tolerantobaze. imperiuli da totalitaruli rejimis Semdgomdroindel periodsi ganvitarebulma movlenebma msgavs pretenziebs safuzveli gamoacala da dagvanaxa, rom qartveli eri isetive eria, rogorc nebismieri sxva. absurdia, romelime eris, mat Soris qartveli eris, bunebasi gansakutrebuli Rirseba an gansakutrebuli urirseba ezebo. am mxriv erebs Soris gansxvaveba araa. karg an cud Tvisebas esa Tu is eri, ufro sworad, _ eris garkveuli nawili, konkretuli garemoebebisa da mizezebis Sesabamisad avlens. eri gaqvavebuli mocemuloba rodia. igi Sedgenilia pirovnebebisa da individebisagan da imave masstabis cvalebadobas eqvemdebareba, ra masstabis cvalebadobac pirovnebam da individma SeiZleba ganicados. pirovneba is arsebaa, romelic icvlis xasiats, Tvisebebs, znes; umjobesdeba an uaresdeba. yvelafers, cxadia, mizezi aqvs. Tuki qartveli eri, davusvat, warsulsi martlac gansakutrebit humanuri Tavi 3. konfesiata urtiertoba saqartvelosi 217
da rjulsemwynarebeli iyo, xolo dres am Tvisebebs verar amjravnebs, es, erti mxriv, samarcxvinoa, radgan saqme regrestan gvaqvs, da, meores mxriv, egeve faqti mizezebis Ziebisaken gvibizgebs. sirtuleebi, rasac saqartvelo dres Sin Tu garet awydeba, bevrwilad sarwmunoebriv niadagzea armocenebuli. arasamartlebrivi da arasaxelmwifoebrivi cnobiereba, rasac Cvens sazogadoebasi Rrmad aqvs fesvebi gadgmuli, yvelaze cxadad sindisis Tavisuflebisadmi mosaxleobis didi nawilis damokidebulebasi vlindeba. es nawili Tavs martlmadideblobaze debs, magram misi azrovnebisa da gemovnebisatvis martlmadidebeli sarwmunoeba realurad ertob ucxo da Soreulia. martlmadidebeli sarwmunoebis arsebiti nisani pirovnebis sindisis (msoflmxedvelobis) da nebis Tavisufleba gaxlavt. eklesia imit gansxvavdeba seqtisagan, rom iq, seqtasi, vimeorebt, met-naklebi dozit, totalitarizmi batonobs, romelic pirovnebis yovelmxriv STanTqmas lamobs. Tu es ar moxerxda, e.i. individi koleqtivs Tu globalurad ar Seerwya, mas gaazeveben. eklesiis wevrta winase, saxeobrivad rom vtqvat, srulyofilebastan ziarebis ierarqiuli kibea, romlis safexurebze isini nebayoflobit dgebian (jer eri, mere beri). izuleba Tu dakabaleba RvTis nebas ewinaarmdegeba. RmerTma adamians ara marto arcevanis ufleba, aramed arcevanis gaketebis, nabijis damoukideblad gadadgmis anu am uflebis realizaciis sasualebac dautova, rasac samotxis SuagulSi ori xis arseboba adasturebs. esaa imis mizezi, rom katolike eklesiasi pirovnebebtan mizanmimartuli anu individualuri misionerobis, individebis sulier samyaroze zedamxedvelobis da kar-kar qadagebis Cveuleba danergili ar aris. TiToeuli adamiani WeSmaritebas Tavisufali sindisisa da nebis Sedegad unda eziaros. damunateba, _ ratom Seicvale msoflmxedveloba, ratom gaxdi ama Tu im armsareblobis mimdevari! _ Tavisuflebis bibliur gagebas ewinaarmdegeba. martlmadideblobit gaamayebuli Cveni mosaxleoba, ufro xsirad `Savi samyaros~ warmomadgenlebi an am samyarosaken midrekili pirovnebebi cnobierad Tu qvecnobierad dres am WeSmaritebis winaarmdeg gamodian da es faqti zemoarnisnuli vitarebis ert-erti mizezia. sxvadmadideblebis lanzrva da alag-alag mustikrivit angarissworeba ukve isviatoba araraa. meore mizezi qartveli erisa da martlmadidebeli eklesiis identifikaciis mcdeloba gaxlavt. rogorc eklesiologiuri, ise antropologiuri da politologiuri TvalsazrisebiT romelime eris romelime, mit ufro, msoflio religiastan gaigiveba sruli nonsensia. eri da eklesia heterogenuli anu warmosobit sxvadasxva movlenebia. pirveli amqveyniuri da wutisofliseulia, meore _ maradiuli da zeerovnuli; pirveli xalxta istoriul ertianobas gulisxmobs, romelsic genetikas, e.i. jissa da jilags garkveuli wili aqvs, meore _ xalxta rwmenismier ertianobas, romelic madlit da RirsebiT yvela ers atanabrebs da aigivebs 218 msoflio religiebi saqartvelosi
(Sdr. 1 kor. 12:13; gal. 3:28; kol. 3:11). erisa da eklesiis identifikacia, rogorc ukve arvnisnet (ix. gv. 87), aris eklesiologiuri eresi (filetizmi anu metomeoba) da droa xmamarla itqvas, rom martlmadideblobis damcemebel qartvelebsa da mat sulier mamebs Soris dres am eresis momzlavreba SeiniSneba. unda variarot, rom lozungi `qartveli eri da martlmadidebeli eklesia ertia!~ aris seqtanturi, antipatriotuli da antimartlmadidebluri azrovnebis nayofi. aqedan er- Ti nabijia qartveli eris daqucmacebamde da saqartvelos daslamde. Tu qartveli eri da martlmadidebeli eklesia erti da igivea, aramartlmadidebeli qartvelebi _ muslimanebi, katolikebi, protestantebi, marginalebi, martlmadideblobis damcemebeli aramartlmadidebeli mosaxleoba, romlis ricxvi didze didia, da bolos ateistebi, qartvelebi arar yofilan. am Sinaarsis lozungebit spekulacia eklesiis sazrvrebs Slis, xolo saxelmwifos katastrofit emuqreba, rom nebsit Tu unebliet religiur-nacionalur eqstremizms mwvane Suqi enteba. arsebobs mesame mizezic, _ Cveni sazogadoebis sxvadasxva fenasi gamjdari azri da Tavdajereba ~ucxo religiebisa da seqtebis~ arnaxulad momravlebis Sesaxeb. gazet ~alias~ Tu davujerebt (T. rusitasvilis korespondencia), Cveni Tanamemamuleebis meotxedi ukve gaseqtantebula (2000, 8-9. I, N 3). vrceldeba xma, TiTqos, saqartvelos zogiert raionsi, magalitad kaspsi, `iehovas mowmeebi~ mosaxleobis 30%-s Seadgenen. xsirad gaigonebt: `Tu ase gagrzelda, martlmadidebloba Cvens qveyanasi male religiur umciresobad mogvevlineba~, `naxevari saqartvelo lamis ieroveli gaxda~ da a.s. Tuki es xmebi nawilobriv mainc Seesabameba sinamdviles, saqartvelosi yoveli meore Tu ara, yoveli meotxe, mexute, meate, ocdameate mainc iehovas mowme, anda romelime sxva denominaciisa Tu seqtis mimdevari unda iyos. mimovixedot mezoblebsi, ubnebsi, samsaxurebsi, saswavleblebsi da davsvat kitxva: martla asea? movuxmot faqtebs: saqartvelos saxeze myofi mosaxleoba (afxazetisa da cxinvalis regionebis garese), statistikis saxelmwifo departamentis ukanaskneli, 2001 wlis, monacemebis mixedvit, 4 452 100 anu otxi milion otxasormocdatormeti atas as suls Seadgens. saqartvelos mosaxleobis religiurobis nisnit arweris Sedegebi jerjerobit cnobili araa. Cveni gamokitxvebis Tanaxmad (ix. zemot Tav-Tavis adgilze), aramar- Tlmadidebel qristianta da araqristianta demografia saqartvelosi dreisatvis ase gamoiyureba: Tavi 3. konfesiata urtiertoba saqartvelosi 219
# dasaxeleba ricxvi mosaxleobis % 1. `somxuri samociqulo eklesia~ 200 000 4,0 2. katolike 50 000 1 3. lutereli 700 0,01 4. baptisti 6000 0,1 5. ormocdaatianeli 5000 0,1 6. duxobori 1500 0,03 7. malakani 2000 0,04 8. me-7 dris adventisti 400 0,0 9. iehovas mowme 15000 0,3 10. `xsnis armia~ 800 0,02 11. `axalsamociqulo eklesia~ 700 0,01 12. sxvadasxva dasaxelebis jgufebi maqs. 300 0,0 13. iudeveli 10 000 0,2 14. muslimani 500 000 11,2 15. iezidi 30 000 0,7 16. krisnaiti 200 0,0 17. bahaiti 500 0,01 sul 823100 masasadame, dreisatvis saqartvelosi 823100 aramartlmadidebeli cxovrobs. es ricxvi qveynis mosaxleobis 18,5%-s Seadgens. is protestantuli da marginaluri eklesiebi anu is denominaciebi da seqtebi, romlebic Cvens masmediasi, agretve saero da sasuliero oficialuri pirebis mier xsirad eristvis sasis Zalebad inatlebian _ baptistebi, ormocdaatianelebi, adventistebi, iehovelebi, xsnis armielebi, krisnaitebi, bahaitebi, axalmociqulebi da sxvadasxva wvril-wvrili jgufebi _ qveynis mosaxleobis 0,6%-s Seadgens anu ert procentsac ver arwevs. saqartvelos masstabit es umnisvnelo ricxvia da realuri Zala ar gaacnia. am (da Tundac meti) raodenobis ultraprotestantebsa da marginalebs saerto erovnul kulturasa da tradiciul normebze gavlenis moxdena, romc undodet, ar ZaluZT. xmaurisa da aliaqotis, lamis isteriis safuzvels arc tendencia izleva. jer 220 msoflio religiebi saqartvelosi
erti, `sasisi~ denominaciebi da seqtebi saqartvelosi dakompleqtebulia ara mar- Tlmadidebeli mrevlis (yofili martlmadidebeli morwmuneebis) xarjze, aramed, da es mkafiod unda itqvas, _ carieli adgilidan mosulebit anu im adamianebit, romlebic adre ateistebi, nihilistebi, sarwmunoebisadmi indiferentulad ganwyobilebi iyvnen. ase rom, koreqtirebas moitxovs gancxadeba: `seqtebi mrevls martlmadidebel eklesias staceben~. rac Seexeba Cvens qveyanasi martlmadidebelta raodenobas, vitareba, ra masalebzec xeli migviwvdeba, SeiZleba itqvas, idealuria. arsad, arc ert qveyanasi, morwmune martlmadideblad Tavs mosaxleobis imdeni procenti ar ariarebs, ramdenic saqartvelosi. vinc martlmadidebel eklesiebsi wirva-locvaze dadis, dagvetanxmeba, rom tazrebis umravlesoba mlocvelebs verar itevs. religiata kvlevis institutta monacemebit, msofliosi morwmuneta ricxvi klebulobs. saqartvelosi piriqit, arnaxulad izrdeba. 1978 wels Tbilisis saxelmwifo universitetsi RvTismorwmuned Tavs studentobis 1 procenti Tvlida, 2000 wels ki Tavi morwmuned 88,8%-ma gamoacxada, 6,2%-ma _ aramorwmuned, xolo 5%-s pasuxis gacema gauwirda. morwmuneta umravlesoba _ 97,5% _ martlmadidebelia, danarceni, e.i. 2,5% islamis, iudaizmis, katolicizmisa da baptizmis mimdevrebi arian (T. fanjikize, rogora gvaqvs saqme RmerTTan. _ gaertianebuli samecniero konferenciis masalebi, Tb., 2001, gv. 62). im problemisatvis, razec vsaubrobt, yvelaze mnisvnelovani martlmadidebel- Ta ricxovnobis ertob marali macvenebelia _ 97 procentze meti. martalia, am SemTxvevaSi laparaki studentta SezRudul kontingentzea, magram Cvens garemomcvel vitarebas Tu fxizlad davakvirdebit, davrwmundebit, rom arnisnuli Sedegebi qveynis sarwmunoebrivi realobisagan didad ar gansxvavdeba. visac drevandeli vawrobis qselisatvis Tvali Seuvlia, dagvetanxmeba, rom Tu ramezea motxovnileba, esenia martlmadideblur-sarvtismsaxuro literatura, salocavi sagnebi, samarxvo sawmelebi da a.s. xelisufalta, politikosta da qveynis WirisufalTa SeSfoTebas unda iwvevdes ara qartveli martlmadideblebis raodenoba (vimeorebt, am mxriv tendencia idealuria), aramed is mzvaobroba, araiuridiuli qmedeba da cnobiereba, romelsac Cveni moqalaqeebi, kerzod, saxelmwifo moxeleebi da, warmoidginet, iuristebi amjravneben. sauketeso magalitad, bevr sxva magalits Soris, didube-cururetis erti gaxmaurebuli da gawianurebuli sasamartlo procesi gamogvadgeba. laparakia `martlmadidebel msobelta kavsiris~ sarcelze saskolo saxelmzrvanelos (`religia da kultura~) da damxmare saxelmzrvanelos (`religiis karibwe~) winaarmdeg. sacivars sarwmunoebrivi Sinaarsi hqonda, _ am wignebsi rjulis sakitxebi araadekvaturadaa gasuqebulio. faqti, rom mosamartleebma TavianT Tavs msgavsi sarcelis ganxilvis ufleba misces, savalalo da sagodebelia, radgan saqme Tavi 3. konfesiata urtiertoba saqartvelosi 221
samartlebrivi cnobierebis gaukurmartebasa da regrestan gvaqvs. Cveni sasamar- Tlo ver dgas im simarleze, ra simarlezec romis sasamartlo jer kidev 2000 wlis winat idga. sailustraciod `mociqulta saqmeebis~ erti epizodis gaxsenebac sakmarisia (18:12-17). ebraelebma pavle mociqulis winaarmdeg sasamartlosi sarceli Seitanes, _ `es kaci arwmunebs xalxs, rom rjulis sawinaarmdegod etayvanon RmerTs~. prokonsulma, romelsac saxelad galioni erqva da mosamar- Tlis movaleobasac asrulebda, gancxadebis teqsti moismina, Tavi gadaaqnia da Tqva: vinaidan am kacs kanonis sawinaarmdego saqme ar Caudenia anu, Cveni sityvebit rom vtqvat, ar mouparavs, ar mouklavs, boroti xulignoba ar Caudenia, saxelmwifos winaarmdegac ar gaulasqria, misi religiuri azrebi da saqmeebi sasamartlo mosmenasa da ganxilvas ar eqvemdebarebao. pasuxma momcivanebi ver daasosmina, ris gamoc galioni izulebuli gaxda, rom isini sasamartlodan kinwiskvrit gamoeyara. kargi iqneba, Tuki Cveni mosamartleebi, prokurorebi da advokatebi bibliidan am da bevr sxva msgavs epizodes guldasmit waikitxaven da profesiulad gaaanalizeben. nacionalur-fileturi emociebi, romelmac bolo atwleulsi Cveni saero da sasuliero elitis SesamCnevi nawili moicva, qsenofobiasa da antiseqtantur isterias kvebavs. gaismis mowodebebi da motxovnebi martlmadideblobis saxelmwifo religiad da qveynis ideologiad gamocxadebis, `mozalebul seqtata~ kanonis ZaliT alagmvis da saamisod sagangebo specsamsaxuris Seqmnis Sesaxeb. vrceldeba xmebi (razec Jurnalistebi xsirad sapatriarqos prescentrs imowmeben), rom dedaqalaqsa da mis SemogarenSi `satanistebi momzlavrdnen da ritualuri mkvlelobebic gaxsirda~. gazet `axali saqartvelos~ mtkicebit (2002, 24. I I -2. I I I, #4), `ama Tu im seqtis wevrebis mier masobrivi mkvlelobis faqtebi realurad gvayenebs okulturi policiis Seqmnis aucileblobis winase~ (l.jasis korespondenciidan). samartaldamcavi organoebi am SemTxvevaSic dumils amjobineben, rac sazogadoebis egzaltirebul nawils aragznebs. mattvis yvela aramartlmadidebeli seqtantia da, masasadame, potenciuri mkvlelia, satanistia. msgavsi Tavdajerebebi ubralo dezinformacia araa, aramed _ sazogadoebisa da saxelmwifosatvis sasisi crumorwmuneoba. bulvarul presas salaparako ezleva. radikalur zomebze, `okultur policiaze~ fiqris sababs, Jurnalistebis propagandit, martlmadidebelta xarjze seqtantebis ricxvis zrda izleva. monacemebi, razec Cven xeli migviwvda da rasic ewvis Setanis safuzveli ara gvaqvs, vimeorebt, gansxvavebul surats gvtavazobs. saqartvelosi rogorc morwmune martlmadidebelta, ise martlmadideblobis damcemebelta ricxvi dritidre izrdeba. rac Seexeba sxvadmadideblebs, saqar- TveloSi isinic arian. mati saerto ricxvi ase Tu ise, met-naklebad, magram mainc, aseve izrdeba da SesaZlebelia, metadac gaizardos garesamyarostan saqartvelos 222 msoflio religiebi saqartvelosi
komunikaciebis gafartoebis kvaldakval. es demokratiuli da Ria sazogadoebis principia. adgili aqvs konkurencias: carieli sivrcidan, yamiri miwidan da daumusavebeli venaxidan gaurkveveli religiuri orientaciis pirovnebata gamoyvanis mcdelobas. gaimarjvebs is, vinc dauxnav, dautesav da gaumarglav velebs uketes meurned gamoucndeba; adamianebtan urtiertobasi vinc met daxvewilobas gamoicens, axsna-ganmartebis iset formebs mozebnis, rasac mociquli gvtavazobs da rac am wignis epigrafadaa wamzrvarebuli; vinc Tanamedrove problemebs gaitvaliswinebs da, rac mtavaria, vinc uketes zneobriv samyaros da suliskvetebas gamoavlens. meurnes sidinje, goniereba, kolegiuroba da im sagnis siyvaruli moetxoveba, rasac emsaxureba. sarwmunoeba sindisis saqmea da satuti sfero. martlmadidebeli eklesiis xelsi oriataswlovani samozrvro praqtika, gamocdileba da umdidresi sarvtismetyvelo tradiciaa. rogorc saxelmwifos, ise, pirvel rig- Si, eklesiis umtavresi mizani, vfiqrobt, am tradiciis sirrmiseulad gaazreba da mis arsebastan ziareba unda iyos, rata ersic da bersic, vimeorebt, sarma sarwmunoebam anu sarwmunoebrivma kulturam, siyvarulis, msvidobisa da satnoebis sulma daisadguros. Tavi 3. konfesiata urtiertoba saqartvelosi 223
saxarebiseuli cnobierebis recidivebi qristianta Soris xsirad icens Tavs. kerzod, ganyenebuli spiritualizmi, avtoritaruli moutmenloba, magiuri moweseoba. es gasagebia: 2000 weli Zalian cotaa imisatvis, rom kacobriobam crumorwmunoeba gadalaxos da RvTis gzazed dadges. es gza absoluturi da amouwuravia... cudia, roca tazari carielia. ufro cudia, rodesac tazari savsea, magram sulisagan daclilia. dekanozi aleqsandre meni
ZiriTadi literatura: 1. epistole armosavletis katolike eklesiata patriarqebisa martlmadidebluri rwmenis Sesaxeb. _ `sarvtismetyvelo krebuli~, 1988, #3 2. z. kiknaze, eklesia gusin, eklesia xval, Tb., 2002 3. z. kiknaze, saubrebi bibliaze, Tb., 1989 4. z. kiknaze, Sobidan Sobamde, Tb., 1997 5. e. nadiraze, msoflios religiebi, Tb., 1996 6. n. papuasvili, religiis karibwe, Tb., 1996 7. m. sonrulasvili, bibliuri motxrobebi, Tb., 1999 8. T. fanjikize religiis istoriis sagnis arsi da struqtura (avtoreferati), Tb., 1993 9. À. Ìåíú, Èñòîðèÿ ðåëèãèè, ò. 1 Ì., 1998; ò 2, Ì., 1998 10. Ïðàâîñëàâíàÿ Áîãîñëîâñêàÿ Ýíöèêëîïåäèÿ, ïîä. ðåä. À. Ï. Ëîïóõèíà, ò. 1-6 11. Ï. Ñâåòëîâ, Çíà åíèå êðåñòà â äåëå Õðåñòîãî (îïèò èçúÿñíåíèå äîãìàòà èñêóïëåíèÿ), Êèåâ, 1993 12. Í. Ñìåëçåð, Ñîöèîëîãèÿ, Ì., 1998 13. À. È. Îñèïîâ, Îñíîâíîå áîãîñëîâèå, Ì., 1994 14. Òîëêîâàÿ Áèáëèÿ èëè êîììåíòàðèè íà âñå êíèãè ñâ. Ïèñàíèèÿ, Ñòîêãîëüì, 1987 15. Õîðîùåãî äåðæèòåñü. Öåðêâè è ðåëèãèîçíûå îáüåäèíåíèÿ â Ðîñèèñêîé äåðæàâå, Ñîâåòñêîì Ñîþçå è íåçîâåñèìèõ ãîñóäàðñòâàõ, âîçíèêøèõ ïîñëå åãî ðàñïàäà, Õàðüêîâ, 1999 16. Ýíöèêëîïåäè åñêèé ñëîâàðü, èçäàòåëè Ô. À. Áðîêãàóç è Ì. À. Åôðîí, ò 1-86 17. Bibeltheulugisches Worterbuch, Herausgegeben von I. B. Baur. ama Tu im konkretul sakitxtan dakavsirebit gamoyenebuli literatura mititebulia Sesabamis adgilze.
Nugzar Papuashvili WORLD RELIGIONS IN GEORGIA Summary Due to its location at the crossroads of West and the East, Georgia has always represented a place where different religions and cultures came in close contact with each other. This statement is confirmed by a number of Greek, Roman and Armenian historians as well as Georgian scriptures of early mid centuries. According to them, this part of the Caucasus has always been a very eclectic religious entity. Most important cultures existing in the region were locally emerged cults of stones, trees, forests or mountains as well as Greek-Roman Eastern-Mesopotamian polytheist religions as well as Judaism and Zoroastrism. In 20s and 30s of the 4 th century AD, Christianity received the status of the national religion in Georgia; however, other denominations did not cease their existence immediately. Moreover, since mid 7 th century Islam started to spread through Georgia and the entire Caucasus. A considerable part of the population converted into Islam, though the majority still adhered to the Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Religious life of Georgia was heavily influenced by events that took place in the Eastern Roman Empire the Byzantine and the Western Europe. Historical sources indicate that in the medieval period various denominations such as Monophysitysm, Nestorianism, Monothelytism etc. were active on the Georgian territory. Interestingly, the Roman Catholic Church had a very significant influence on the history of Georgian culture and identity. Its missioners practiced and propagated Catholicism in Georgia since 13 th century. In the Early 19 th century, Lutheran Germans, who were resettled to Georgia by the Tsarist Russia, were actively engaged in the cultural and economic life of the country. It can be suggested that the world religions that had existed in different forms in Georgia before, still continue to exist today. For example, about 300,000 of Georgia s citizens are Iezids, with religious roots in Zoroastrism. Georgian culture itself, an indispensable entity of the world culture, is a result of a Christian, more concretely, the Orthodox Christian belief and tradition. The religion and literal practice has had enormous influence not only on the religious but also on
civic history and contemporary life. While nobody questions the latter statement, it should also be acknowledged the role of non-christian in the formation of the Georgian culture. Thus, culture of non-christian ethnic Georgians as well as that of non-georgians but residents (or citizens) of Georgia has always been part of the broader Georgian culture. Today, in addition to Orthodoxy, 17 denominations of Christian and non-christian character are represented in Georgia. According to the available data, the number of followers of these denominations constitutes 823,100 i.e. 18,5% of the entire population. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, there has been a widespread and intense activism dedicated to defining identity of the Orthodox Christian Church as well the Georgian nation itself. Slogans like Orthodoxy is the religion of all Georgians, The Orthodox Church and the Georgian nation is the same became popular. According to the same logic, not following the Orthodoxy meant not being Georgian. In Christian theology, such attitude is described as phyletism a phenomenon denounced by number of Church congresses and labeled as heresy. However, in contemporary Georgia, Ecclesiastic nationalism is clearly a characteristic of number of representatives of the Georgian public as well as religious establishment. Unfortunately, the above slogans have been successfully portrayed as truly Christian, and have brought some serious religious excesses and even violence. With the pathos of Orthodox fundamentalism, pogroms on some Orthodox, Jehovah witnesses, Baptists, Pentecostals have become frequent. Such facts inevitably discredit not only the Orthodox Church but also the state itself. One could think that the ruling elite of Georgia do not realize the importance of such facts as a political threat to the country. Law enforcement agencies are keep silence, and sometimes even promote acts of violence. Even some MPs label Jehovah s witnesses, Baptists and similar denominations as forces that pose danger for the nation. Disinformation about their huge, and clearly overblown, numbers is being spread throughout the population. Reality, however, shows the opposite picture: according to the information found (through interviews of the leaders of these denominations) the number of so-called sects in Georgia does not exceed 0.6% of the total population. Thus, anti sect hysteria in Georgia has no tangible ground. This book intends to review principal issues of theory and practices of different religious organizations active in Georgia. Particular focus falls on Christian denominations. The author attempts to describe internal and external nature of each denomination and focus on key aspects of their importance. Looking at different religious organizations from this perspective will promote and cultivate the reader s impulses of tolerance and respect towards them.
Sinaarsi: Sesavali 3 religia (3-5), rwmena (5-6), suli (7), suli da sxeuli (7-8), RmerTi (8-12), religiis warmosoba (12-13), religiata klasifikacia (13-15), religiuri organizaciebi (15-17), saqartvelo religiebis gzatsesayarze (18), religia drevandel saqartvelosi (19). Tavi 1. qristianoba 20 zogadi mimoxilva (20-21), pirvelwyaro (21-23) sarvto werili 23-33 sayoveltao interesi (23), saxelwodeba (23-24), Semadgenloba, Sinaarsi, avtorebi (24-25), Zveli artqmis arakanonikuri wignebi (26), axali artqma (26), rodis Seiqmna kanoni? (26-28), bibliologiis sakvanzo sakitxebi (28-29), xelnawerebi, armocenebi, daskvnebi (30-31), bibliis qartuli Targmani (31), bibliis ena (32-33), biblia da stamba (33). sarvto istoria 33-59 Zveli artqma (33-56), axali artqma (56-59) RvTismetyveleba da RvTismsaxureba 59-81 RvTismetyveleba (59-75), RvTismsaxureba (75-81) martlmadidebloba 81-88 zogadad (81-83), struqtura da kanonikuri wyoba (83-85), sqizmaturi eklesiebi (85-88) saqartvelos eklesia 88-96 denominaciebi eklesiata ertianobis xanasi 96-134
gnosticizmi da mandeizmi (98-100), origenizmi (100-103), arianoba (103-106), nestorianoba (107-111), monofizitoba da somxuri eklesia (112-121), monotelitoba da maronitebi (121-128), xatbrzoloba (128-134) eklesiata gayofa 134-145 katolikoba da katolikuri eklesia saqartvelosi 145-152 reformacia da protestantoba 152-169 istoria da ZiriTadi mimartulebebi (152-154), anglikanuri eklesia (154-156), luterelebi da mati eklesia saqartvelosi (156-162), baptistebi (162-165), evangelist-ormocdaatianelebi (165-167), xsnis armia (167-168), axalsamociqulo eklesia (168-169) marginaluri eklesiebi 169-176 duxoborebi da malaknebi (170-172), me-7 dris adventistebi (172-175), iehovas mowmeebi (175-176) Tavi 2. araqristianuli religiebi 177 iudaizmi 177-181 islami 181-194 zoroastrizmi da iezidebi 194-197 vedebi, brahmanizmi da induizmi 198-207 budizmi 205-209 krisnas cnobiereba 209-212 bahaizmi 212-214 ioga 214-216 Tavi 3. konfesiata urtiertoba saqartvelosi 217 gamoyenebuli literatura 225 inglisuri reziume 226-227
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 Religion (3-6), Faith (5-7), Soul and Body (7-8), God (8-12), Birth of Religion (12-13), Classification of Various Religions (13-15), Religious Organizations (15-17), Georgia on Religious Crossroads (18), Religion in Today s Georgia (19) CHAPTER 1. CHRISTIANITY 20 Overall Summary (20 21), First Sources (21 23) Divine scripture 23-33 Public Interest (23), Title (23-24), Structure, Content and Authors (24-25), Non-Canonical Books of the Old Testament (26), New Testament (26), When Was the Law Formed? (26-28), The Basic Questions of the Biblical Science (28-29), Scriptures, Discoveries, Conclusions (30-31), Georgian Translation of the Bible (31), Biblical Language (32-33), Print and History of Bible (33). Divine History 33-59 Old Testament (33-56), New Testament (56-59) Theology and Divine Service 59-81 Theology (59-75), Divine Service (75-81) Orthodoxy 81-88 General Overview (81-83), Structure and Canonical Order (83-85), Scismatic Churches (85-88), Georgian Church 88-96 Denominations at Age of United Church 96-134 Gnosticism and Mandeizm (98-100), Origenizm (100-103), Arianizm (103-106), Nestorianizm (107-111),
Monofizitizm and Armenian Church (112-121), Monothelitizm and Maronits (121-128), Iconoclasm (128-134) Separation of Church 134-145 Catholisism and Catholic Church in Georgia 145-152 Reformation and Protestantism 152-169 History and Main Directions (152-154), Anglican Church (154-156), Lutherans and their Church in Georgia (156-162), Baptists (162-165), Evangelist-Pentecostal (165-167), Salvation Army (167-168), New Testament Church (168-169) Marginal Churches 169-176 Duxobors da Malakns (170-172), The 7th Day Adventists (173-175), Jehovah s Witnesses (175-177) CHAPTER 2. NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS 177 Judaism 177-181 Islam 181-194 Zoroastrism and Yezidism 194-197 Vedas, Brahmanizm and Hinduism 198-204 Buddhism 205-209 Krisnaism 209-212 Baha 212-214 Yoga 214-216 CHAPTER 3. THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG CONFESSIONS IN GEORGIA 217 Key Literature 225 English Summary 226-227
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