The Meaning Of Salvation As Perceived By Main World Religions

By Steven Fox


The Meaning of Salvation is a significant feature in most of the prominent faiths on earth. Despite differing in some regard as to how to attain this condition, its accomplishment is still the major desire of most devotees.

The textbook definition of salvation refers to a state of deliverance from harm or difficulty, destruction, loss or forces geared towards ruination and evil. In the press four example it is not uncommon to see this term used to describe someone or something as being the the political or economic salvation of a situation badly impacting an economy or circumstances in politics. Use in a religious situation would be more related towards been delivered and saved from a sinful state and associated consequences thereof.

The teachings of Islam in the Koran tell us that salvation is only attainable through the worship of God alone. A person must believe in God, follow His commandments and worship sincerely. Islamic theologians add that in addition to complete belief, our works, state of repentance and the mercy of Allah are all necessary ingredients, but it is the state of complete submission to the most merciful that is the foundation.

Buddhists believe that salvation is achieved through attainment of a level of Nirvana. The best way to understand this is to imagine reaching a mental state of complete bliss or as believers describe, becoming Buddha. Achieving this state requires a believer to live according to the Noble Eight-fold Path. This doctrine determines the conduct and behavior of Buddhist followers throughout their lives and even includes interacting with nature and our surroundings. The foremost of the eight steps are the Four Noble Truths that deal with the ideology around suffering.

Salvation for Christians is embedded in the belief in and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and that the incarnation, persecution and death of Jesus, through crucifixion, as related in the Bible, took away the sins of believers and made possible an eternal life in heaven in union with God the Father. Fundamental to this is the realization that mankind is inherently sinful. Forgiveness and redemption is there for all who truly believe and confess, but that this is granted through grace, not through acts or deeds, and that Jesus paid the price to atone for the sins of the faithful.

Jewish history and religious beliefs run along similar lines and shared history to that of Christianity, except that they disputed the idea that God could take on an earthly dimension as did Christ. Salvation was viewed widely as being the liberation from exile, a position in which the Jews repeatedly found themselves. Deliverance from sin and condemnation was perceived as being more in the hands of individuals, to be achieved by living a life according to high moral and ethical standards. These standards, particularly the Ten Commandments, are consulted through regular readings and instruction from the Torah.

Dating back a lengthy three and a half thousand years BC, Hinduism is the oldest organized religion on earth. Interestingly the beliefs and prescripts of the Hindus have undergone an evolution over this period resulting in it frequently being referred to as a living religion. The doctrine relating to salvation has also changed as the faith evolved. Referred to as Moksha, the belief is that the process of repeatedly being reincarnated through life and death is halted when an individual reaches a point of completeness. This final state is seen as the ultimate for Hindus as it implies one being at one or in union with God.

It is interesting to see that although belief structures and methodologies may differ, many world religions are pursuing similar outcomes.




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