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.

Islamic teaching within the Koran inform us that salvation is only achievable by the worship of God solely. Individuals must have complete belief in God, obey the divine rules as prescribed and be absolutely sincere in worship. Theologians of Islam say additional to total faith, our deeds, an attitude of repentance and the will of merciful Allah are all requirements, however, it is the attitude of total devotion to the most merciful that lays the foundations.

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.

The Christian approach to salvation revolves around belief and total devotion to Jesus Christ. Christians view Jesus as the Son of God who became man for the purpose of spreading His message of love and forgiveness, as related in the Bible, and most importantly, being the Savior of mankind, through grace not deeds, from their sinful state. Persecution by the authorities and death by crucifixion was the fate of Jesus. This, however, is seen as the greatest gift of all for Christians, as it represents the taking away of sin from all those who truly believe and accept Jesus and acknowledge sin through confession.

The history of Judaism overlaps and is mixed up with that of Christians. The Jewish faith did not recognize Jesus and his teachings on the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. The idea that God could appear in human form was also rejected by the Jews many of whom see salvation as being delivered from exile. Deliverance is a common theme throughout Jewish theology and is believed to be attained more through observing high moral standards and ethics as laid out in the verses of the Torah, particularly the Ten Commandments.

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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