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Salvation and Redemption. How Near is the End?. Heaven reconciliation between humans and God enlightenment wholeness. self-actualization absorption into the ultimate Nirvana concord. Terms for Ultimate Destiny. What is Salvation. It is a move from one state or being to another.
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Salvation and Redemption How Near is the End?
Heaven reconciliation between humans and God enlightenment wholeness self-actualization absorption into the ultimate Nirvana concord Terms for Ultimate Destiny
What is Salvation • It is a move from one state or being to another. • It is a move from a bad, deficient, imperfect state to a good, perfect state.
Religious Salvation • For Christians salvation means “being saved form a destructive self-centeredness through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.” • A person is made whole. • It is noted by the fact that God acts on behalf of the individual. • In the Christian tradition this is known as grace (God’s unmerited favor).
Objective God’s goodwill toward God’s creation. Subjective acceptance of the fact that God accepts a person. Grace has been internalized. The Two Parts of Grace
More Grace • Even in polytheistic religions, there is frequently a concept of grace as the special unbidden, unmerited state bestowed on some individual or group by a god or goddess.
Salvation in non-Christian Faiths • e.g. Hinduism • For Hindus salvation is release from the cycle of birth and death. • Individuals have Krishna consciousness • This consciousness has been adulterated by material atmosphere. • This atmosphere is called maya or illusion.
Goal of Hinduism • The goal is be released from this maya. • By chanting Hare Krishna . . . , a transcendental vibration, one can cleanse away all misgivings within one’s heart. • The basic principle of all such misgivings is the false consciousness that I am the lord of all I survey.
Eschatology When is it over?
Eschatology • Eschatology means the “study of last things.” • This includes the individual and, in many cases, all of humanity as well.
New Societies • Communitarians • Communists • Protests • Transformation of Consciousness • Jewish Prophecy • Islamic Vision • Early Christian Eschatology
Communitarians • These are individuals who live in groups and who believe that Jesus will return to rule the earth. • They share belongings, responsibilities, property and other material items. • Decisions are made on the basis of the best interest of the group consistent with their religious belief.
Communists • Communists have the idea that the “workers” of the world will rise up and overthrow the capitalists and a society will be established.
Protest • People who protest the present circumstances of society and desire to see a change make their wishes known. • The Civil Rights movement is a great example. • The idea is that a new, better day is approaching. It’s coming is immanent. This is captured well by MLK’s “I Have A Dream Speech.”
Transformation of Consciousness • In the 60’s in the United States and other parts of the world people believed that society was dominated by oppressive political forces and economic power. • The Vietnam war was raging, poverty was evident, women rights were denied, pollution was rampant, racial discrimination was confronted nationally, etc.
A Change • There came those who preached love, justice, peace, etc. • They wanted to break out of the establishment. • The song “Aquarius” captured this mood. • “We’re in for a change of consciousness--where dreams are realized and everyone is living together in harmony which each other and nature. It is the natural order of things. It is in the ‘stars.’”
Jewish Prophecy • God will separate the unfaithful from the faithful. • God will establish God’s righteousness and the enemies of God’s people will be judged. • The Jewish people will become want God hand intended for them all along. • God will resolve all of the problems that have infected humanity and nature.
Islamic Vision • Allah will come and judge everyone and all of creation will know it. • Allah will judge the deeds of everyone; rewards and punishments will follow. • This life is a test and people must choose to submit to Allah or to follow Satan. • The struggle between good and bad will end “with the assertion of Allah’s sovereignty and power.”
Christians • It talks about such concepts as second coming of Christ, resurrection of the dead, immortality of the soul, final judgment, and Heaven and Hell. • Christians believe that there will be a struggle between good and evil. This will culminate in a final battle called “Armageddon” in which good will finally triumph over evil. • God’s people will be vindicated and the adversaries will be punished. • There will be a transition from old to new.