Christian church in the modern world: its nature, tradition of androcentrism and new trends

The article deals with the specificity of the Church as one of the social institutions of modern intensively developing Western and Russian society. The authors analyze its main functions, the main characteristics and the role of the Church in the world, which it played in the history and plays in our days in connection with the processes of sa-cralization and secularization. Individual represents a summary of ambiguous philosophical positions on this issue. Article Sets out a point of view on the Church, which was developed in the feminist discourse, post-feminist and gender theory. According to this theory social institution of a Church is traditionally androcentric, and puts woman to the second place, after man. Authors give arguments both of opponents and supporters of the decisions of the «women's question» in the space of the Church and evidence of emerging positive changes in this relevant issue. The conclusion is the contradictory role of the Church in modern society and the necessity to update the androcentric position on gender equality.