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Soteriology is the study of salvation. The word comes from two Greek terms: soter, meaning "savior," and logos, meaning "word", "reason", or "principle". Many religions give emphasis to salvation of one form or another, and as such have their own soteriologies. Some soteriologies are primarily concerned with relationships to, or unity with, gods; others more strongly emphasize cultivation of knowledge or virtue. Soteriologies also differ in what sort of salvation they promise. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... For other uses, see Salvation (disambiguation). ... Soter, sometimes known as the Pope of Charity, was pope from 166 to 174 (the Vatican cites 162 or 168 to 170 or 177). ... This article is about logos (logoi) in ancient Greek philosophy, mathematics, rhetoric, Theophilosophy, and Christianity. ...

Christianity

Soteriology is the branch of Christian doctrinal theology that deals with salvation through Jesus Christ. [1]. Doctrine, from Latin doctrina, (compare doctor), means a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system. ... Theology finds its scholars pursuing the understanding of and providing reasoned discourse of religion, spirituality and God or the gods. ...

Christian soteriology traditionally focuses on how the Triune God ends the separation people have from him due to sin by reconciling them with himself. (Rom. 5:10-11). Christians receive the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), life (Rom. 8:11), and salvation (1 Thess. 5:9) bought by Jesus Christ through his innocent suffering, death (Acts 20:28) and resurrection from death three days later (Matt. 28). This grace in Christ (1 Cor. 1:4) is received through faith (Eph. 2:8-9) in him (Gal. 3:22, Rom. 10:9), which is caused by God's Word (Rom. 10:17). Some Christians teach the reception of Christ by grace alone through faith alone. The different soteriologies found within the Christian tradition can be grouped into distinct schools: the Catholics and Orthodox on Justification, the Church, the Sacraments, and the freedom of the will; Arminianism's synergism; Calvinism's predestination; and a large range [2] of Lutheran doctrine, including conversion [3], Justification by grace alone through faith alone [4], the Means of Grace [5], and the Church [6]. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... Triune can refer to: Trinity refers to the Unity in Christianity. ... For other uses, see Sin (disambiguation). ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... This page is about the title, office or what is known in Christian theology as the Divine Person. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      In Christianity... For other uses, see Faith (disambiguation). ... Sola gratia, one of the five solas propounded to summarise the Reformers basic beliefs during the Protestant Reformation, it is a Latin term meaning grace alone. ... Sola fide (Latin: by faith alone), also historically known as the justification of faith, is a doctrine that distinguishes most Protestant denominations from Catholicism, Eastern Christianity, and Restorationism in Christianity. ... The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to: The Eastern Orthodox Church: the Eastern Christian churches of Byzantine tradition that adhere to the seven Ecumenical Councils. ... Justification can mean: justification (jurisprudence) justification (typesetting) justification (theology) In epistemology, justification of a belief is what renders it worth believing in terms of its probable truth. ... In Christian belief and practice, a sacrament is a rite that mediates divine grace, constituting a sacred mystery. ... Arminianism is a school of soteriological thought in Protestant Christian theology founded by the Dutch theologian Jacob Hermann, who was best known by the Latin form of his name, Jacobus Arminius. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Calvinism... Predestination (also linked with foreknowledge) is a religious concept, which involves the relationship between the beginning of things and their destinies. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... In general, conversion is the transformation of one thing into another. ...

Islam

Islamic soteriology focuses on how humans can repent of and atone for their sins so as not to occupy a state of loss. Salvation in the afterlife comes from God's recognition and acceptance of the individual, with regards to their virtue, obedience and/or good deeds performed in their earthly life. For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ...

In Islam Salvation occurs only due to God's mercy on the human being no matter how righteous and pure he is even if he is a Prophet whose sins have been forgiven by Him already. Yet, in the Day of Judgment all people will receive a just recompense of their deeds. Salvation can only come from God, yet He will recompense each person according to his deeds in view of His Justice.

In Islam when one becomes a Muslim all of one's sins and wrong deeds are forgiven by God, and one is free to start anew. The same when one prays as Islam directs, fasts as Islam directs, and does pilgrimage as Islam directs. Islam considers many virtuous deeds prescribed by it and recommended by it as earning of God forgiveness of one's sins, as, for instance, when a woman stops breastfeeding her child after two years, or by special supplications. The Qur'an states, and the Sunnah (the second legal source of Islam) confirms, that good deeds wipe wrong deeds out and that charity (which in Islam can be a good word, helping someone cross the street, even the minutest good deed) puts off wrong deeds just as water puts off fire.

Judaism

Many practitioners of Judaism also emphasize morality in this life over concern with the afterlife. The concern is not so much for one's own benefit after this life, but so that ultimately all humanity can better its lot as everyone practises more virtuous and ethical behavior. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Hellenic philosophy

Epicureanism is primarily concerned with temperance and leading of a simple life as a means to avoid inflicting pain and find "freedom from anxiety" (αταραξία). Stoicism is concerned with the cultivation of virtues such as fortitude and detachment to improve spiritual well-being. In the Neoplatonism of Iamblichus, one is saved through the process of henosis. Epicureanism is a system of philosophy based upon the teachings of Epicurus (c. ... Ataraxia (Ἀταραξία) is a Greek term used by Pyrrho and Epicurus for freedom from worry or any other preoccupation, and for Epicurus to achieve Hêdonê, the great pleasure. ... A restored Stoa in Athens. ... Neoplatonism (also Neo-Platonism) is the modern term for a school of religious and mystical philosophy that took shape in the 3rd century AD, founded by Plotinus and based on the teachings of Plato and earlier Platonists. ... Two historical persons go by the name Iamblichus (Greek: Ιάμβλιχος) A Greek novelist; see Iamblichus (novelist) A neoplatonist philosopher; see Iamblichus (philosopher) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Within the realm of Neoplatonic philosophy henosis is the divine work committed to by each individual toward the goal of union with the Monad, Source, or the One. ...

Hinduism

Hinduism, which teaches that humans are caught in a cycle of death and rebirth called samsara, contains a slightly different sort of soteriology devoted to the attainment of moksha, meaning "liberation." Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages)[1] is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... For other uses, see Moksha (disambiguation). ...

Buddhism

Buddhism focuses on attaining liberation from suffering. A statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Tawang Gompa, India. ...

Theravada Buddhism, which more prevalent in Thailand, Sri Lanka and other parts of Southeast Asia, has a soteriology more like the Hindu philosophy. A monk or practitioner of Theravada Buddhism will meditate and become more ascetic in an attempt to escape the sufferings inherent in the wheel of dharma. "Moksha" to them means "release," or in other words they remove the mental shackles of attachment, aversion and ignorance and achieve Nirvana (Nirvana in this sense is not heaven, but the cessation of suffering) and are not condemned to further rebirth in samsara. It is very different from a Christian interpretation of salvation. Theravada (Pali; Sanskrit: Sthaviravada) is one of the eighteen (or twenty) Nikāya schools that formed early in the history of Buddhism. ... For other uses, see Dharma (disambiguation). ...

Mahayana Buddhism, practiced in China, Tibet and Japan has elements of relying on a savior, looking for help or assistance from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to assist the meditator, who may in time ascend to the same levels as the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and therefore attain liberation (nirvana) and enlightenment (bodhi). Relief image of the bodhisattva Guan Yin from Mt. ...

Jainism

Jainism emphasizes penance and asceticism, which lead to liberation and ascendance of the soul. Jain and Jaina redirect here. ...

Sikhism

Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. This meditation is meant to bring a person into union with God. Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ), founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century Northern India, is the fifth-largest religion in the world. ...

Confucianism

According to Confucianist teachings, people cannot save themselves. While their good deeds create good karma and merit (called boon), people cannot use it for themselves. This merit can be used to help their ancestors, though, who are waiting in the spirit world and need help from the younger generation. In this way the children assist in the salvation of the parents. Confucianism (儒家 Pinyin: rújiā The School of the Scholars), sometimes translated as the School of Literati, is an East Asian ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of Confucius. ... For other uses, see Karma (disambiguation). ...

Shintoism

Shinto and Tenrikyo similarly emphasize working for a good life by cultivating virtue or virtuous behavior^{[citation needed]}. Shinto ) is the native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. ... Tenrikyo Headquarters, Tenri Tenrikyo (天理教; Tenrikyō, lit. ...

External links

• site with over 50 links to writings on soteriology