Free The Role Of Salvation In Religion Essay Example

Salvation is one of the key elements in religious teachings. Perhaps, it is considered the ultimate objective of believers, despite the type and nature of their religion. Generally, salvation is described as being protected or caved from harm. It also means being delivered from terrible circumstances. However, in the religious context, salvation is described as the saving of the soul from sins as well as its repercussions. In religious studies, studying salvation is described as soteriology. Particularly, that study is associated with relative study of how various religious practices regard salvation as well as how they consider it is realized. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the role that salvation in religion on an individual and the community at large, as well as how individuals perceive salvation. It will also explain how salvation is attained.
According the teachings of various religions, salvation entails the refurbishment of the body and the soul. As such, their teachings largely cover the principle of dead body resurrection and its reunion with the soul, in preparation for eventual salvation. Besides, salvation gives people hope to move on with life, despite the challenges they might be facing. Particularly, believers argue that they have a reason to live for because they hope to be rewarded with salvation at the end of it. For instance, based on the Christian teachings, the main problem facing humanity is sin, which is believed to be the cause of the numerous sufferings facing humankind in their everyday life. Christians perceive sins as the failure to live as per the standards of God; the defiance of external commands of God, and internal consciousness of good and evil. However, they believe that salvation is the solution to this problem; and therefore are hopeful that they will finally overcome such sufferings through salvation. On the other hand, Eastern religions, such as Taoism and Buddhism, consider salvation as an illumination, which implies to the discovery of and conformism of oneself with an internal rule that controls existence.
Although various religions have different perceptions with regard to what salvation means and what it entails, most of them tend to conquer in the manner in which it is attained. Most religions argue that salvation can only be attained through making use of inner human resources. Such resources include accumulation of wisdom, meditation, good deeds, asceticism, as well as rituals. On the other hand, some religions claim that salvation can only be attained through receiving grace from an external agent, and such agent could be God, avatar, and bodhisattva. However, all seem to conquer that attaining salvation cannot be achieved through an individual’s own efforts, and one has to unconditionally accept grace.
According to Christianity, to receive salvation three major factors are required. First, one has to understand that salvation is grounded on the grace of God, and it is has never been a free choice. Second, one has to have faith that Jesus is God, who is full of love for humanity. In addition, one has to admit of having committed sins, a problem that can only be dealt with through the help of God. Lastly, one has to have the longing to love and obey God whole heartedly. Similar belief is held among the Muslims. However, the further believe that those who die disbelieving in God never receive salvation. In addition, non-Muslims believing in God but disregarding the Islam message also never receive salvation.
In conclusion, salvation is a very crucial element in religion. It is described as the saving of the soul from sins as well as its repercussions. The focus of the paper was evaluating the role that salvation play to an individual as well as the community, and how this salvation can be obtained. As discussed above, salvation brings unity in the community and gives hope to people to face life despite the challenges they face. With regard to how it is obtained, different religions have different believes on how it is attained. However, most of them tend to agree that salvation cannot be attained through one’s own will, but with the help of an external power, which is God.