The Meaning Of Salvation As Perceived By Main World Religions

By Steven Fox


The Meaning of Salvation is an important concept in all the major world religions. Although they may differ to some degree regarding how this state may be accomplished, its attainment remains the central theme and goal of most followers.

Dictionaries define salvation as being delivered from harmful or difficult circumstances, destructive, evil or ruinous forces, or loss. Media organizations may use the word in connection with somebody or something being the salvation of a certain economic or political problem after difficult monetary or political times. Used in the context of a discussion about faith, it refers to being delivered from a sinful state and the consequences of sin.

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.

For a Buddhist salvation is attained by reaching the state of Nirvana. This is best described as a transcendental condition of blissful nothingness or as devotees say, becoming Buddha. To achieve this believers follow what is called a Noble Eight-fold Path. This is essentially a set of commandments that determine a Buddhists conduct and behavior in all walks of life including interactions with others and the environment. Foremost is the first of the eight steps which is acceptance of Four Noble Truths explaining the concept of suffering.

Christians view salvation entirely through believing in and worship of Jesus Christ. The Bible relates the whole story of Jesus. Seen as the Son of God, in human form, Jesus was persecuted and ultimately crucified by opponents to his message of love and forgiveness. Central to Christian doctrine is the belief that through faith and confession Jesus was able to make the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Granting, through grace not actions, an everlasting heavenly afterlife in the kingdom of God for those who truly believed and accepted Christ as Lord.

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.

Hinduism, the oldest major world religion, dating back some three thousand five hundred years BC, has a doctrine that has changed and evolved over time. Hence it is often called a living religion and the concept of salvation in Hinduism has also changed and varied widely in different periods of time. Deliverance for a Hindu is called Moksha. Moksha is achieved when a learned person is freed from the cycle of reincarnation through life-and-death and comes into a state of completeness. He then becomes one with God.

Whilst doctrine and methods of worship do vary, the main religions on the planet appear to be pursuing similar objectives.




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