Soteriology

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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.

Christian soteriology focuses on how people can take advantage of the Christ event, as well as with the means by which salvation is obtained - faith. Islamic soteriology focuses on how humans can repent of and atone for their sins so as not to occupy a state of loss. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God, meant to bring one in union with God. Hinduism, which teaches that we 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." For some this liberation is also seen as a state of closeness to Brahman. Jainism emphasizes penance and asceticism meant to lead to a liberation and ascendance of the soul. Buddhism is in a real sense devoted primarily to soteriology (as Buddha famously said, "I teach one thing and one thing only: suffering and the end of suffering"); the essentials of the Buddha's soteriology are given in the Four Noble Truths, and his method for attaining liberation from suffering is given in the Noble Eightfold Path. Epicureanism is primarily concerned with temperance and simple life as a means to the absence of pain or "freedom from anxiety" (αταραξία) and Stoicism is concerned with the cultivation of virtues such as fortitude and detachment to improve spiritual well-being. Shinto and Tenrikyo similarly emphasize working for a good life by cultivating virtue or virtuous behavior, and many practitioners of Judaism also emphasize morality in this life over concern with the afterlife.