Habitus Manifestation in Social-Religious Scenarios in Ukraine

The paper uses the methodology by P. Bourdieu to determine habitus based on the consideration of possible options for the development of religious projects that take place in Ukraine. The following options are distinguished in the religious field of Ukraine: the project of Protestant Ukraine, the project of Catholic Ukraine, the project of Orthodox Ukraine in unity with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the project of neopagan Ukraine, the project of Islamic Ukraine (Muslim Slavs), the project of Orthodox Ukraine in unity with the Russian Orthodox Church. A careful examination of the views prevailing in these projects revealed that there are two habituses in Ukrainian society: the first which steadily expresses the views of the majority of the population, and is associated with the common history, culture and religion of the bulk of the population in the Russian Federation. The second is a sort of antipode introduced by Diaspora and showing attitudes and opinions of residents of Western Ukraine. The socio-political crisis of 2014 gave some attractiveness to the alternative habitus. This was manifested in religious projects that implemented it in more or less degree. Intervention in religious issues by the state did not bring significant changes to the religious preferences of Ukrainians. Despite pressure from state bodies and nationalist organizations, the largest confession represented by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate continues to be the dominant religious organization in Ukraine.