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The Quest for Salvation. The Sacred Quest, chapter 9. Why “salvation”?. What is it? Tied to notion of sacred reality This informs sense of “how things are” vs. “how things should be” (ordinary experience vs. sacred reality) Could be religious or non-religious
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The Quest for Salvation The Sacred Quest, chapter 9
Why “salvation”? • What is it? • Tied to notion of sacred reality • This informs sense of “how things are” vs. “how things should be” (ordinary experience vs. sacred reality) • Could be religious or non-religious • Latin root: Salvus, to be well (“Salve!”) • Alternative: liberation • In a sense, ultimate purpose of religion
Different types of salvation • Who? • Individual • Group • Where? • This world • Other world
Types of Salvation, cont. • How? • Truth (knowledge of sacred reality) • Goodness (action in harmony with the sacred) • Beauty (participation in sacred beauty) • Gift (given by sacred) • Submission to/Trust in the sacred
Patterns • Individual This Worldly (within time) Salvation • Search for Meaning (make a difference in the world) • Desire to be Remembered (glory, fame, children, legacy) • Completion (fulfillment of one’s potential, harmony with the Tao, or release from false self) • Individual Other Worldly (beyond time) • Joining the Spirit World • Release from Matter or Cycle of Death and Rebirth • Judgment—good are rewarded; evil are punished
Patterns, cont. • Group This Worldly (within time) Salvation through: • Participation in the continuing life of a people • Maintaining a tradition or way of life of a people • The kingdom of God transforming this world (cf. Marxism) • Group Other Worldly (beyond time) Salvation • Incorporation into an eternal community of the sacred (kingdom of God) • Incorporation into an eternal community of the spirit world • Combinations of the above • e.g., a community of the sacred that is both this worldly and other worldly.