Soteriology is the study of salvation. Often soteriology is associated with salvation according to Jesus Christ or the Christian tradition. In this work, however, soteriology will be used in a more general sense. For instance, it may refer to salvation wrought by Jesus Christ, or it may refer to liberation from the cycle of rebirths for the Hindu.
These salvific studies are important for several reasons. Soteriology demonstrates how one can come to experience the “ultimate,” for lack of a better term, of that religion. Consequently, then, this work attempts explore what ideals and concepts each world religion holds most dear. As we study various concepts of salvation, the highest values of each faith become quite evident, as it seems that the salvation in each religion is or leads to the respective, chief purpose of man. And when one is able to understand what each religion values most, he is able to better understand each religion in a more general fashion.
Thus, this work seeks to understand the soteriological concepts of various world religions for the aforementioned purposes as well as comparative purposes. By examining various religions, we will be able to explore what types of themes are common among the religions and which themes are distinct and unique. To an extent, we will also attempt to follow the evolution of soteriological thought in a religion.
The religions selected for this work are Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, as Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are the three largest religions of the world. Judaism was chosen because of its unique relationship to various world religions, namely Christianity and Islam. Further, because Christendom is so diverse, sub-selections were made within Christianity. Roman Catholicism was chosen because of its historicity and high following. To contrast Roman Catholicism, Evangelicalism was selected with an emphasis on reformed theology. Because Hinduism is so drastically different as compared to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, we will begin there and travel west.
~ by wesleycrouser on November 11, 2007.
Posted in Comparative Religions
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