Is there such a thing as Salvation? (ritual, beliefs, preaching)

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by Runt

Salvation is a human concept that discourages individual responsibility, and is based on a wholly human concept of sin and the need for redemption. No matter how much we ask for forgiveness, the action will not just undo itself. Instead, we must try not to perform the action in the first place, if we believe it is so detrimental that we need to seek forgiveness.

Well, just remember that your concept of salvation is not the only one.... my salvation has nothing to do with sin or seeking forgiveness... my salvation is not earned by my merit.... my salvation was a gift.

[BruceDLimber]

Hi, Runts!

We Baha'is agree with you in that to us, salvation is very much what WE choose rather than something imposed upon us by God!

(And please note that I never mentioned "salvation from our sins"; that is not what I was talking about as we reject original sin, as also does the Bible....)

You are perfectly free to believe what you like, and you'll never hear us object to your choosing your own beliefs, but I must say that like it or not, a few billion people do disagree with your overall take. Perhaps you and I will need for now to concentrate on those areas where we agree.

Regards,

Bruce

[niceguy]

I have my own personal definition of salvation. Salvation are the liberation from the haunting feeling of guilt caused by something bad, let call it sin, one has done. This achived by healing the wounds your crime/sin has caused and if this is impossible at least do something to that end. A criminal can, after serving their alloted prison time, voulonteer to counteract crime. This could be done by talking about their experience to warn other from doing it. Other ex convicts are working in organisatons to help other ex convicts return to socity without returning to a life of crime. Here are a link to such an organisation, they are only active in Sweden as far as I know but I guess similar organisations exists elsewhere. http://www.kris.a.se/engelskasidan.htm

[njcl]

yes,salvation is being saved by the belief that jesus is the son of god,not much of a 12 labours of hercules there is there

[Mister Emu]

Is there such a thing as Salvation?

Yes.

Salvation is the state of being where one is "saved" from the righteous punishment due because of sins committed.

How one attains salvation is disscussed in detail in the New Testament of the Bible.

[Ormiston]

I don't believe in sin and I don't believe in "salvation".

[EnhancedSpirit]

Before mortality we existed as literal spirit children of our Heavenly Parents. God, our Heavenly Father provided a plan of redemption and a way for us to learn and grow.

At birth we left the pre-mortal existence and passed though a veil of forgetfulness before entering mortality so that we live by faith. We come to Earth as mortals to gain a body and be tested to see if we will follow God, our Heavenly Father's Commandments. Jesus Christ, the only begotten of our Heavenly Father was sent to be our exemplar, to lead and teach us God's plan, to redeem us by atoning for our sins and to break the bands of death by being the first to be resurrected.

In order to be receive salvation, we must repent of our sins, follow the commandments and His example. We must accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who were not taught the gospel on earth will be taught in the spirit world where they may accept or reject it.

[niceguy]

Imagine that you are a in the school age and you have done something bad so you have been summoned to the principals office to explain yourself. You are standing outside his office and just have to open a door to face him but you do not dare to open that door. So you sit down for a few moments and think about what you have done and what you can do to better yourself. Then when you have thought about the error in your behavior and decided to at least attempt to better yourself you feel a sudden rush of strenght flow through you. You now have the courage to open the door and face the principal.

I belive that salvation comes from acknowledgement that we have done something wrong and a desire to repair the damage we have caused whatever we are able to or not. If we are unable to repair the damage we have caused, then maybe we can instead repair the damage someone else has done instead. It's like when a criminal during their prison time decide to from then on work for good instead of evil. Some comes out and become deeply involved in some religion, others may decide to become social workers or maybe both. That is a way to salvation as I see it, to see the errors in our behavior and honestly try to amend those errors. It doesn't matter if you are able to finish the job, just that you honestly wants to try.

[Ori]

I don't know if there is such a thing, if there is then good, but if not, it at least gives people something to aim for.

[Terrywoodenpic]

I think Salvation has come to mean, for many people, a point of arrival. where they fully understand their destiny and the love of God. You can't have Salvation in the plural. so it is not a question of repeatedly having sins forgiven or repeatedly returning to a Christian life. It is a once and for all, and I think not often achieved.

Terry
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Blessed are the poor in spirit, the kingdom of heaven is theirs.