Master of Arts Velikaya O.V.

Baitursynov state-run university of Kostanay.

UNCONVENTIONAL CULTS IN KAZAKHSTAN

Recently deliberate infiltration of Kazakhstan non-traditional Islamic and Protestant religious associations has been viewed, as well as new cults that have destructive pattern. The activities of most of these organizations that proclaim their goals as complete "Islamization" or "evangelization" of Kazakhstan, coordinated and funded by foreign centers. The volume of activity of destructive religious organizations has recently increased. Herewith there are a number of religious movements that do not have destructive nature, and passed the state registration. They will be described in this article.

In 2014, four new religious movements in Kazakhstan were recorded. They are: The New Apostolic Church (25 amalgamations), Hare Krishna devotees (9 amalgamations), Bahaism (6 amalgamations), the Unification church of Moon (the Moonies) (1 association).

The Centre of the New Apostolic Church in Kazakhstan is situated in Almaty. The main provisions of the religion are: faith in the triune God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the possibility of forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the dead and the afterlife, adoption of believe that the management of the Church is implemented by Jesus Christ through His messengers, who are apostles and other clergymen, herewith special attention is paid to the expectations of the coming of Jesus Christ. The Centre of spiritual life is act of worship, which is usually held twice a week, in particular on Sunday and any day during the week in addition. Worship begins with a prayer. Subsequent ministry of priests at the altar occurs as free sermon built on the basis of one or more verses from the Bible. The main subjects of sermons are: spiritual instructions concerning putting on the right track, search of new spiritual strength, happy news about children of God, eternal salvation, eternal satisfaction, sense of safety on the knees of the gods. The culmination of worship is satisfaction, the so-called Holy Communion. The last is represented by sacramental wafer with three drops of wine. New Apostolic Christians accept sacramental wafer during every mass. The mass ends with communal prayer and congregational singing of triple “amen”. All the masses are accompanied by choir service or all community of anthems, also by orchestra’s performance. There are three sacraments accepted in New Apostolic Church: Capturing Holy Spirit; Holy baptism of water; Holy Communion. The New Apostolic Church observes the following religious holidays: Christmas, Easter, Trinity Sunday, Thanksgiving Day. In the New Apostolic Church communion and baptism of the dead are practiced.

Hare Krishna devotees are registered in Kazakhstan in 1996. The main object of worship in Krishnaism is Krishna. There are certain differences in the understanding of the person and activity of Krishna among the various Hindu traditions, each of them provides its own interpretation of sacred texts. However, there are several aspects that are common to all schools of Hinduism. Krishna and the stories associated with him are important in different philosophical and theological traditions of Hinduism. Adherents of these traditions believe that God is incarnated in many different forms, depending on how they wish to see Him and worship Him. Avatars of Krishna described in the various sacred texts of Vaishnavism belong to this forms or hypostases. Today Krishna devotees actively visit administrative organizations with their treats and gifts. Lectures aimed at the study of "Vedic culture" and other cultural programs for the various segments of the population are conducted regularly. According to their doctrine, salvation must be earned through a number of cases. If we want to get rid of ignorance, we must diligently repeat the name of Krishna, participate in the rites and ceremonies of worship. Hare Krishna devotees never part with a necklace of 108 beads, which they count during the recitation or chanting. Each inhabitant of the ashram should repeat the mantra of not less than 1728 times daily(16 "circles," one circle includes 108 mantras). Krishna’s mantra is a formula consisting of 16 combinations of words, such as "Hare," "Krishna," "Rama." It is believed that its utterance exempts a man from the material world and raises the real presence of Krishna. According to authorities’ point of view, hours-long repeat of the same words produces hypnosis in a person. Under hypnosis the man yields to the "Guru" easily and participates obediently in elaborate rituals which are practiced in the community.

The Baha'i Faith (Baha'i, Bahai Faith) is a monotheistical religion. Its founder, Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892) is revered as the last in a series of "manifestation of God or epiphany", which besides Bahaullah includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Krishna, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab. Universal Center is located in Haifa. Baha'i apprenticeship is based on the teachings of Baba and Mirza Husayn Ali (named Baha'u'llah). The main subjects are: the unity of God, the unity of religions and the community of humanity. Recalling the events of previous similar teachings of epiphanies, Bahá'u'lláh states that there is only one religion, the so-called "devoted faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future", the same way as "Islam" is considered as any revealed religion in Quran. Baha'i devotees believe that their religion is the last universal monotheistic religion of revelation, while it is classified in the range from Islamic-syncretic sect to the new world religion among theologians.

Moonies believe that at the age of 15 in April 17, 1935 a Korean Myung Moon Yong (birth name)had a vision of Jesus Christ, who gave him instructions whether to "restore perfect kingdom of God", or predicted that he would become "performer of the salvation of mankind, as the Second Coming of Christ". Moon took the mission and changed his name to Myung Sun Moon further. The doctrine of "Unification Church" is syncretic to a considerable extent, and is represented by Christianity (Catholicism), Pentecostalism, Jehovah’s teaching, shamanism, mysticism, occultism, the teaching of Emanuel Swedenborg and false Christianity and some Eastern religions. "Unification Church" supports the belief in spiritualism, that is communication with the spirits of deceased ancestors. Spiritualistic séances are used to improve the situation of the dead ancestors in the spiritual world. Moonies asseverate that the Bible is not "the truth, but the textbook, which studies the truth". Works of Moon enjoys authority with cult’s followings.