-
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:- Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
- Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
- Access to private conversations with other members.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
How is "Salvation" attained in your Religion?
- Thread starter Sabio
- Start date
Green Gaia
Veteran Member
Sabio said:
Salvation is not a word we use frequently.
We do not believe people are born into a state of sin from which they must be saved in order to avoid spending an eternity suffering in hell.
Since we believe in neither original sin nor hell, we do not feel a need to be saved from either.
Green Gaia
Veteran Member
How do UUs understand salvation?
The English word salvation derives from the Latin salus, meaning health. Unitarian Universalists are as concerned with salvation, in the sense of spiritual health or wholeness, as any other religious people.
However, in many Western churches, salvation has come to be associated with a specific set of beliefs or a spiritual transformation of a very limited type.
Among Unitarian Universalists, instead of salvation you will hear of our yearning for, and our experience of, personal growth, increased wisdom, strength of character, and gifts of insight, understanding, inner and outer peace, courage, patience, and compassion. The ways in which these things come to, change, and heal us, are many indeed. We seek and celebrate them in our worship.
http://www.uua.org/aboutuu/uufaq.html#salvation
The English word salvation derives from the Latin salus, meaning health. Unitarian Universalists are as concerned with salvation, in the sense of spiritual health or wholeness, as any other religious people.
However, in many Western churches, salvation has come to be associated with a specific set of beliefs or a spiritual transformation of a very limited type.
Among Unitarian Universalists, instead of salvation you will hear of our yearning for, and our experience of, personal growth, increased wisdom, strength of character, and gifts of insight, understanding, inner and outer peace, courage, patience, and compassion. The ways in which these things come to, change, and heal us, are many indeed. We seek and celebrate them in our worship.
http://www.uua.org/aboutuu/uufaq.html#salvation
Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
In Mormonism, there are different meanings of the word "salvation." Among them are:
1) Salvation from the permanance of death. In other words, all who have ever lived will someday be resurrected.
2) Salvation from an eternity in Hell. We believe that, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the vast majority of mankind will receive at least some degree of glory in Heaven.
3) The fullness of salvation, or "Exaltation." This is eternal life spent in God's presence with the opportunity to progress forever. Exaltation represents the epitome of what Jesus' sacrifice makes possible for mankind. It is available to all people through obedience to the laws and ordinances of His gospel.
1) Salvation from the permanance of death. In other words, all who have ever lived will someday be resurrected.
2) Salvation from an eternity in Hell. We believe that, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the vast majority of mankind will receive at least some degree of glory in Heaven.
3) The fullness of salvation, or "Exaltation." This is eternal life spent in God's presence with the opportunity to progress forever. Exaltation represents the epitome of what Jesus' sacrifice makes possible for mankind. It is available to all people through obedience to the laws and ordinances of His gospel.
Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
So, what do you believe, Maize? I don't accept the doctrine of original sin, either, but I do believe in hell (though I don't believe huge numbers of God's children will end up there). Do you believe in an afterlife at all, or is death the end? And if death is the end, what do you believe is the purpose of life?Maize said:
Green Gaia
Veteran Member
Katzpur said:
I personally do believe that our "soul" or part of us goes on to whatever is next, but that "next" is unknowable, and is therefore not something we should worry about in this lifetime. I do not believe in places called heaven or hell where one goes after dying. There is no place of reward or punishment, simply another place of existence. Immortality manifests itself in the lives of those we affect during our lifetime and in the legacy we leave when we die. Our goal should be to want to live in a more sane, peaceful, and just world than the one we have at present, and to pass on a better world to succeeding generations.
Rev. F. Forrester Church has defined religion as "Our human response to the dual reality of being alive, and having to die." Most UUs regard death as the final and total end of our existence. Rather than seeing this in a morbid or despairing sense, we view the finality of death as a compelling reason to live life as fully as possible. Although we regard death as the end of our conscious life, we hope that we will live on in the minds and hearts of those persons whose lives we enriched during our earthly life.
Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
Thanks, Maize.Maize said:
So when you lose a loved-one, isn't it difficult for you to have to accept the idea that you will never be reunited? Or do you think you will? (I'm not looking for the "official" -- if there is one -- UU point of view. I'm interested in your own feelings on the subject.)
Green Gaia
Veteran Member
Katzpur said:
No, death is not something to fear. If we are reunited with familiar souls in the next existence, great. If not, what's the use in fretting over it? I like to think we will, but I base that on nothing more than my hope that we will see loved ones again.
It is a strange coincidence that the subject of being reunited with loved ones shoul come up; I was only thinking of that very subject this morning.
I was thinking how much I hope I get to see the baby my wife lost (we think it might have been a girl) - when my time finally comes; it would mean so much to me.
I was thinking how much I hope I get to see the baby my wife lost (we think it might have been a girl) - when my time finally comes; it would mean so much to me.
DreamQuickBook
Active Member
Maize said:
I think that is a good attitude to have. We don't know what happens after death, so why not imagine what it will be like? If our imagined "afterlife" is wrong, well... who cares? We're Dead!
Draka,Draka said:
No I believe in the Atonement of Christ, though some other Christians may believe in personal atonement. I don't beleive there is anything I can do personally to "deserve" or pay for my own salvation.
Romans 5:10-12
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Sabio
Maize,Maize said:
This does not seem all that different from how most people on the thread have described salvation. It appears there is a universal desire for improvement of the personal "spritual state" among men. As a Christian I would say this is because "God wrote the knowledge of His presence upon every man's heart" along with a desire to interact and have a relationship with the Creator. The one thing that sets Christians apart regarding salvation is that we have a "saviour" who is Christ Jesus the Son of God, whereas most other world views rely on self-atonement.
Sabio
Michel,michel said:It is a strange coincidence that the subject of being reunited with loved ones shoul come up; I was only thinking of that very subject this morning.
I was thinking how much I hope I get to see the baby my wife lost (we think it might have been a girl) - when my time finally comes; it would mean so much to me.
It will be a great time of reuniting and celebration, the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" !
Sabio
Revelation 19:6-8 (King James Version)
http://www.biblegateway.com/bg_versions/bgclick.php?what=24 http://www.biblegateway.com/bg_versions/bgclick.php?what=2
6And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Michel,michel said:
Your fruit is evident...
Sabio
Hebrew 6:
10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.