Interpretations of salvation
Those who believe salvation is a cooperative effort
They salvation is a cooperative effort between God and human free will. God initiated salvation through the sacrifice of the Christ and individuals need to respond to it in various ways depending on the view:
Catholicism
They believe that when a person dies:
- The person's body (temporary vessel) and soul (immoral essence of the person) are separated.
- Then a "particular judgement" occur and based on the person's actions and choices throughout the person's life, the soul enter in one of these states:
- Heaven: A permanent place of perfect happiness and union with God
- Purgatory: A temporary state of purification (not punishment) for those who died with incomplete repentance, so that they could too enter Heaven at a later time. They also believe intercession, prayers and the mass of those who are still alive can accelerate purgatory process of a person.
- Hell: A permanent place of suffering and separation from God for those who have rejected God and who had chosen to live a life in sin
- Then a "final judgement" occur where Christ will determine the person's eternal destiny by either confirming or revising the previous "particular judgement".
Therefore, they believe that salvation means:
- To escape Purgatory and Hell
- To go to Heaven in union with God
They believe the minimum requirements for salvation are:
- Faith: Believe Jesus is God the Saviour
- Keeping at least these sacraments:
- Baptism: Required for the forgiveness of sin
- Confirmation: Required to receive the Holy Spirit
- Eucharist: Required to be part of the church
- Good works:
- Acts of kindness: Including helping the poor, sick, needy as well as forgiveness and prayer.
- Works of justice: Promote justice and peace in the world.
- Works of piety: Prayer, attending sacraments
Eastern Orthodoxy
They believe that when a person dies:
- The person's body (temporary vessel) and soul (immoral essence of the person) are separated.
- Then a "particular judgement" occur where God will assess the person's actions and choices throughout the person's life. This is not a final judgement but only an assessment of the person's spiritual state.
- Every soul (even those of saints) goes on a journey:
- Each soul has to pass through various Aerial Tollhouses (temptations) where demons will attempt to claim their souls.
- Some scholars see the Aerial Tollhouses as a symbolic representation of a person's internal struggles and self-examination.
- The purpose of the Aerial Tollhouses is to face past demons, and purify the person from sin, and seeking reconciliation with God.
- The ringing of church bells alert guardian angels to comfort and accompany these souls on their journeys.
- After the Aerial Tollhouses:
- If the soul reconciled with God, it enters into a state of rest (Abraham's bossom), a peaceful place waiting for the final resurrection.
- If the soul rejected God, it enters temporary into Hades (a place of darkness and remorse), where the soul would stay until the person repent.
- During Christ's second coming, all bodies and souls will be reunited.
- The "last judgement" happens at the end of time and is considered a mystery (or debated topic) on how God will be able to save everyone.
Therefore, they believe that salvation is part of Theosis, which is a gradual process of becoming increasingly Christ-like which continues after death on the journey to the Aerial Tollhouses.
They believe the minimum requirements for salvation which would accelerate Theosis are:
- Faith: Believe Jesus is God the Saviour
- Keeping at least these sacraments (but preferable the others too):
- Baptism: Required for the forgiveness of sin
- Confirmation: Required to receive the Holy Spirit
- Eucharist: Required to be part of the church
- Commitment to Theosis
Gnostism
Gnosticism is a complex religion with some groups differing on certain aspects.
In general, they believe that when a person dies:
- The soul (spiritual nature) is liberated from the body (material nature).
- The soul ascends through series of realms or spheres towards ultimate liberation (challenges that shed earthly attachments).
- Gnosis, a special knowledge or insight, is required to guide the soul through the afterlife
- Each person faces potential entrapment on the journey such as:
- Ignorance: Lack of Gnosis
- Archonic control: Lower beings who rule the material world and seek to keep souls trapped in their domain
- Karmic debt: Negative actions can require the soul to repeat certain cycles in a realm until it learns and evolves sufficiently
- Stubborness: Clinging to earthly desires or succumbing to temptations
- Traditional Vorstellungen: Heaven, hell or purgatory are considered to be traps in realms (not eternal prisons)
- Each person must find his/her own path through the realms
They believe salvation is the process of transformation and spiritual growth to ultimately to achieve union with the divine source (Pleroma).
They believe the requirements for salvation are:
- Gnosis: A special kind of knowledge, mystical practises and understanding of reality in preparation to escape this material prison world. Gnosis can be achieved by:
- Repentance of sin: Turn away of from the material world's way of doing things which leads to Ascenticism.
- Asceticism: Strict discipline or the denial of bodily pleasures to purify the soul.
- Contemplation: A deep meditation on the nature of the universe and God.
- Spiritual disciple: Prayer, fasting, and celibacy makes the soul more receptive to gnosis.
Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ)
They believe that when a person dies:
- The person enters into "sheol" or "hades", awaiting place for final judgement (a neutral place which is not heaven nor hell)
- At the Second Coming of Christ, everyone will be resurrected, both righteous and wicked
- Then a final judgment is a single event where Christ will separate the righteous from the wicked (John 5:22):
- The righteous will inherit eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth
- The wicked will undergo a second death, referred to as "the lake of fire," and cease to exist (not eternal torment, but no consciousness)
They believe the minimum requirements for salvation are:
- Faith:
- Belief Jesus is the saviour
- Belief Jesus represent God in the flesh (but is not God Himself)
- Repentance: Seeking forgiveness from God for sin
- Baptism by immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
- Active membership in the Iglesia ni Cristo
Islam
They believe that when a person dies:
- The soul enters into Barzakh, an intermediate state between the physical world and the Day of Judgment
- Some consider this a period of rest and reflection
- Others consider this a place of reward or punishment
- Then the Day of Judgement is a momentous event marking the end of the physical world where everyone will be judged by Allah:
- Jannah (paradise): Eternal bliss and contentment, with lush gardens, flowing rivers, and abundant blessings.
- Jahannam (hell): A place of suffering and torment, with fire, scorching winds, and various forms of punishment.
They believe the requirements for salvation are:
- Faith:
- Tawhid: Only 1 God exist, namely Allah
- Prophethood: All prophets should be recognized from Adam to Muhammad
- Angels: Acknowledgement of God's messengers
- Divine scriptures: Acceptance of Torah, Psalms, the Gospels and the Quran
- Day of Judgement: People will be accountable on in the Day of Judgement when they are resurrected
- Free will: God's knowledge of the future does not predetermine human decisions
- Repentance: Seeking forgiveness from Allah (a process, not one-time event)
In addition, they believe that although good works does not earn salvation by itself, it is considered an essential expressions of faith, for example:
- Acts of kindness
- Works of justice
- Adherence to the 5 pillars of Islam:
- Shahada: the declaration of faith
- Salat: prayer
- Sawm: fasting during Ramadan
- Zakat: almsgiving
- Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca
Jehovah's Witnesses
They believe that when a person dies:
- The person enters into "sheol" or "hades", a state of unconsciousness (deep sleep)
- The Battle of Armageddon, a future conflict where all wicked people and systems cease to exist (no more consciousness)
- At some point (some belief after Armageddon) the "Great Crowd" (faithful people) will be resurrected:
- From this "Great Crowd" only the selected 144,000 (Revelation 14:1-4) will be resurrected to heaven to rule with Jesus in his Kingdom. This selection, began with the apostles and continues through the present day.
- The remaining of the "Great Crowd" will live forever to inhabit and cultivate a paradise Earth
- Those who rejected God, will not be resurrected and remain unconsciousness
They believe the requirements for salvation are:
- Faith: Jesus is the Saviour
- Repentance: Seeking forgiveness from God for sin
- Good works:
- Obedience to God's laws
- Association with Jehovah's organisation
- Endurance: Individuals must endure trials and persecution
Judaism
Many diverse branches of Judaism exist with different beliefs about the afterlife.
Traditional Judaism agree on
- "Tzedekah and Tikkun Olam": Jewish teachings emphasize righteous living (Tzedekah) and repairing the world (Tikkun Olam) as ways to prepare for the afterlife.
- "Olam HaBa" (the World to Come): Is not a physical place but a state of spiritual existence where the righteous are rewarded for their good deeds
- "Gehinnon" (hell): Is not a physical place but a temporary state of suffering for the wicked where they will be purified and lead to spiritual redemption
Some branches of Judaism also consider:
- Reincarnation
- Resurrection: Some believe in a physical resurrection of the dead in the future, while others focus on a spiritual resurrection
- Metaphoric interpretation of "afterlife": The dead person cease to exist, but the person's legacy continue to impact the world
Whatever they believe about the afterlife Jews agree that the minimum requirements for righteousness are:
- Faith:
- Only 1 God exist, namely יְהוָֽה (YHVH)
- Repentance: Seeking forgiveness from God for sin
In addition, they believe that good works are essential (but not a requirement) for salvation:
- Observing the Torah's laws
- Mitzvot: Acts of kindness, especially to own family, friends and neighbours
Mormons
They believe that a person:
- Was a spirits in heaven before coming to earth
- Current life on earth is seen as a learning experience and a chance to progress spiritually
- After death, our spirits continue to exist and progress
- At death a person's spirit enters the spirit world (a place of waiting and learning for the resurrection)
- The ultimate goal for Mormons is to achieve exaltation, which is to become like God and have our own worlds and spirit children
- They believe people can continue to interact with loved ones who have passed away
- All people will be resurrected, meaning their spirits will be reunited with their bodies in a perfect and immortal state.
- After the resurrection, people will be judged according to their thoughts, words, and deeds. Based on this judgement the person will inherit one of these degrees of glory:
- Celestial Kingdom: The highest degree, where people dwell with God and continue to progress eternally.
- Terrestrial Kingdom: A good but less glorious kingdom, with a focus on family and community.
- Telestial Kingdom: The least glorious kingdom, where those who have rejected God's plan will reside.
- Afterlife is seen as a continuation of our current existence:
- Temple ordinances will continue in the afterlife
- Family relationships (i.e. marriage covenants) will continue in the afterlife
In addition, some Mormons that believe baptism for the dead helps deceased ancestors progress in the afterlife.
They believe the minimum requirements for salvation are:
- Faith: Believe Jesus is the Saviour
- Repentance: Remorse for sins, confessing them to God and changing one's behaviour
- Keeping the ordinances of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS):
- Baptism by immersion
- Laying of hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit
- Temple endowment
- Sealing for eternity (marriage)
- Patriarchal blessing (when males turn 18)
- Anointing for the sick
- Naming and blessing newborns
- Blessing of food (before meals)
- Fasting
- Tithing (Donating 10% of one's income to LDS)
Protestantism
Their believes varies greatly depending on the denomination. The mainstream Protestant denominations belief that when a person dies:
- The person will be judged by God and would fall in one of two camps:
- Righteous: These people will go to a literal heaven, a place of eternal happiness and reunion with God and loved ones who already passed away
- Wicked: These people will go to a literal hell, a place of eternal punishment and separation from God
How, when and on what the person will be judged depends on the denomination's dogma. Some denominations belief that "hell" simply refers to the annihilation of the wicked which means they will cease to exist (become permanently unconscious).
They believe the minimum requirements for salvation are:
- Sola fide: Faith alone saves, not by good works (however they consider good works a natural response to salvation)
Arminianism
A movement within Protestantism which believes that individuals has a human free will in salvation and that individual may choose to reject salvation, i.e. salvation could be lost.
Evangelicalism
A movement within Protestantism which believes that once an individual is saved, he/she is forever saved, i.e. it is not possible to lose salvation.
Quakers
Quakers generally avoid dogmatism about the afterlife, acknowledging it as a mystery.
Some agree on these concepts:
- Spiritual continuity: Some Quakers believe in a continuation of the spirit after death
- Resurrection: Some Quakers hold the traditional Christian view of resurrection, with the dead being raised to eternal life or punishment.
- Union with Jesus: Some Quakers believe in an afterlife in the presence of Jesus, experiencing eternal life with him.
They believe the requirements for salvation are:
- Each individual will be let uniquely by God on his/her own path to salvation by following the inner light of God.
- Rejection of legalism: Grace and freedom overcome strict adherence to rules and rituals.
Spirit & Truth Fellowship International
They believe that when a person dies:
- The person become unconscious (state of "sleep") until the resurrection.
- At the resurrection, Christ will raise all people to be judged:
- Righteous: Will receive eternal life in heaven
- Wicked: Will experience eternal death or hell
They believe the requirements for salvation are:
- Faith: Believe Jesus is the Saviour
- Repentance: Remorse for sins, confessing them to God and changing one's behaviour
- Water baptism: The full immersion in water in the name of Jesus only
- Holy Spirit baptism: An experience of the Holy Spirit that empowers believers to live a holy life and to serve God.
- Commitment: Live a life that is pleasing to God. This includes avoiding sin and actively pursuing righteousness and love with God and other.
Those who believe salvation is only dependent on God
Calvinism
They believe that when a person dies the person will either go to:
- Heaven: A literal place of eternal happiness and reunion with God and loved ones who already passed away
- Hell: A literal place of eternal punishment and separation from God
- Purgatory: Some branches of Calvanism may also consider this third option where they believe people will get purified before going to Heaven
They believe that God already predestined who will be saved and who will be lost, such that:
- those who will be saved can do nothing to lose their salvation;
- those who will be lost can do nothing to obtain salvation.
In addition, they believe that humans are still morally accountable for their own actions to some degree.
Universalism
Universalism include a wide range of religions which each has its own understanding of the afterlife.
However, they commonly believe that God will not condemn anyone regardless what they believe or how they lived.
Please note that this article is incomplete and still a work in progress and may contain errors.