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.

The dictionary definition of salvation refers to deliverance from harm, difficulty, ruin, loss, destruction or evil. Examination of news media will reveal common usage of the word in various forms. For example reference to someone being acknowledged for bringing economic salvation after a recessionary period, or political salvation after a period of social unrest within a country. When used in a religious context this would refer specifically to the deliverance from sin and its consequences.

Islamic tuition from the Koran teaches that salvation can only be obtained through devoted worship of God. Belief in God must be absolute and total as must obedience of the prescribed teachings. Theologians also prescribe that together with absolute belief a desire to be repentant and submit completely to the merciful will of Allah is fundamental.

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.

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




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