Social and demographic characteristics of the Finno-Ugric speaking protestants of the Ural region

The socio-demographic characteristics of different ethnic groups of Protestants of the Russian Federation aren't still studied completely. The main aim of my research is to answer the question whether it is possible to define the Finno-Ugric speaking Protestants as a different ethno-confessional group among the Ural's Protestants. To achieve the above mentioned aim it is necessary to reach the following specific objectives: to study and analyze socio-demographic characteristics of the Finno-Ugric speaking Protestants -members of the Protestant religious organizations of the Southern, Middle and Polar Ural. I employed the inductive approach and the methods of analysis and synthesis. During my fieldwork, I used the ethnographic participant observation method, the sociological structured interview, and closed questionnaires methods. The results of my investigation prove the hypothesis that Protestants of the Urals consist of different ethnic groups. They have such socio-demographic characteristics as high level of education, employment in highly qualified mental or physical labor and urbanization; even though, various ethno-confessional groups can be differed among Protestants of the Ural. The Finno-Ugric speaking Protestants are representatives of a more traditional culture and have the following ethno-demographic features: a much lower level of education and urbanization and a greater degree of implementation of such traditional values as marriage and childbearing. The results of this article can be used by the government officials, experts in the field of ethno-confessional relations, and religion researches.