Just so everyone knows, I did the major change on this entery today for these reasons:

- it seemed to filled with jargon. It made sense to me, someone who was raised in conservative protestant Christianity, but would a Hindu in New Delhi have understood what was written? I don't think so. I tried to use language that would be familiar to any English speaker with a reasonable education.

- the article I changed only explained one view of salvation. I tried to show that there are different views of salvation arising out of the NT and to give a brief description of a very popular protestant understanding of salvation, the Calvinist view.

I think several more things are necessary for the article on salvation:

1. an expansion/fleshing out of Calvinist thought, including a discussion of arius and the calvinist response. (because this is one of two major theories in American protestantism)
2. a subsection on Wessleyan soteriology (because this is the other major thoery in American Protestantism)
3. a subsection on original sin that discusses the impact of St. Augustine's innovation of A.D. 395
4. a subsection on St.Alselm of Canterbury's theory and the development of western soteriology since then.
5. a section dealing with various theories of salvation with subsections dealing with the ransom theory, the satisfaction theory, the mercantiist theory, the Christos Victor theory, etc.
6. a section dealing with soteriology of Roman Catholicism (because it is the largest church)(this might fit in under thediscussions of St. Augustine and St. Anselm)
7. a section dealing with the soteriology of the Orthodox Church (because it is the second largest church)

==Article changed for the actual Biblical account==
Too many, differing accounts for salvation tended to water-down the article and confuse the reader; further, and more serious, God only had ONE way for salvation and eternal life, and that is through Jesus Christ as specified in the Bible. There is no other way. Differing accounts that were here previously, such as the Calvinist, can be put into separate articles with entries as to why they differ from the straight, Biblical account. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 01:10, 2 June 2007 (EDT)

::I think you underestimate the inter-denominational bickering. Every denomination seems to say there is one way to salvation, true - but they all claim its a different way.
* Catholic doctrine says there is no salvation outside the Catholic church. Period. For church members, its just a matter of dieing without unconfessed sin.
* Most Evangalical churches go for the personal approach - where one need only accept Christ. Church membership is encouraged, but not required.
* A very large number of more casual christians believe that God acts as a judge of who is 'good' and 'bad' - not even careing if someone is a Christian or not. If they are kind, generous and polite they go to heaven, while the violent and selfish go to hell.
* The Jehova's Witnesses, very much on the fringes of Christianity, believe salvation is earned by works in life. Specificly, knocking on doors.
* Then you have the little semi-cults and their strange selection of beliefs.
- [[User:Suricou|Suricou]]
:So what are you claiming? Interdenominational bickering nullifies God's Word? Let's draw the line first off, in Western Christianity, between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.
:*Roman Catholicism stresses God's Word and teaching is kept alive and passed on via a [[priest]]hood, or [[curia]], i.e. in persons, and Church tradition, with the head of the Roman Church being the final arbiter or interpreter of Scripture.
:*Protestantism relies on Scritpture itself as God's Word and teaching, unfiltered by mortal men.
:*Various subdenominations which have sprung from Protestant traditions, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, ''et al'' can be reviewed within the Canon of Scriprture.
:Where is the controversy? [[User:RobS|RobS]] 13:39, 2 June 2007 (EDT)

----
I think the article as written as (e.g. Biblical Account) is a really good statement of the modern Evangelical Protestant development of St. Anselm of Canterbury's 11th century Satisfaction theory. (See his work ''Cur Deus Homo?'') I think it might be good to retitle this from the Biblical Account to Modern Evangeilcal Satisfaction Theory. Also, I'd like to include (1) something on the much older Christus Victor theory of salvation, and (2) something on the role of the Sacraments in salvation. Does anyone see any problems with doing this?--[[User:Mattk|Mattk]] 13:36, 29 August 2007 (EDT)

:There will be NO changes to this article. It is the Biblical account of salvation; it's not some modern theory; it's not some older Christus Victor theory; it's not anyone else's theory for that matter. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 13:45, 29 August 2007 (EDT)

::Well, I don't quite know what to say about that. I don't want to get into a fruitless debate with an Admin (especiallly one who served us in the Naval profesion) but I would like to make the following observations:
1 Many people who love the Scriptures and the Lord who is revealed in them have a different understanding of them than does Karajou.
2 The history of theology does show the development of the Protestant version of the Satisfaction Theory from Anselm, through Zwingli, through the Puritans and into modern American-style Protestantism. It is a impetus behind the development of the theory is laudible, but there is no denying that it is a comparitively recent interpretation of Scripture.
3 Many prominent American conservatives such as the Justice Salcia, Paul Weyrich, and Bill Buckley hold different views of Salvation from the one to which Karajou is limiting the article.
4 I want conservapedia to be a success. I would like for it to be a place where serious scholars can find information on every topic under Heaven, not a ghetto for echo-chamber seekers afraid of history, tradition, and reason.

Now having said that, I have a few questions: Would it be acceptable to Karajou to have links in the Salvation article that lead to articles dealing with the other soteriological theories? Would Karajou mind changing the "the" to an "a" because all of the major theories of how Salvation works are Biblical, they just rely on different passages of Scripture? Since the conservative movement is so broad, is it right for this encyclepedia to limit the definition of Salvation to one not held by most conservative Christians?

2007-04-07T08:31:09Z

Mattk: /* Christian beliefs */

Christianity is a religion that follows the teachings of Jesus Christ, as described in the books of the New Testament. It is currently the world's largest religion, with over two billion members. Christians frequently hold that Jesus is their Lord and Savior, the Son of God, the Messiah foretold by Jewish prophets, and many also beleive that Jesus is the world's only hope for salvation. Many Christians try to convert others (proselytize), usually by preaching. It is widely held by christians that salvation is conditional on accepting jesus christ in some form, while others hold to a universal salvation. It is also widely accepted by christians that God exists as a trinity, while others hold to a unitarian belief.

== Salvation ==

Many Christians believe that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). This is often interpreted to mean that everyone has displeased God and is now separated from him in a kind of alienation and enmity that results from the fundamental conflict between selfish human interests and God's interests (Romans 8:5-8; James 4:4).

Jesus Christ taught that "unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). There are many theological opinions about how this takes place. Christians often use the terms "saved" and "born again" interchangeably, and are highly popular amongst Evangelical congregations. Consequently, Catholics and other Christians prefer using other terms in order to emphasize theological differences between views of salvation.

Born again believers are expected to continue living by Christ's teachings (John 8:31), as is appropriate for "children of Light" (Ephesians 5:8-10). Some believe that this is necessary in order to stay saved. Others believe that salvation is irrevocable or even universal and unconditional.

== Christian beliefs about God ==

As a monotheistic faith [[God]] is the centre of Christianity. There are many key attributes to God. Amoung them would be his strength. As it says in the Book of Numbers Chapter 23 Verse 22 "God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn." Or, depending on the translation a wild fox. "God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox"<ref>http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2023%20;&version=9;</ref>. Anybody who knows anything about animals, knows that unicorns and wild foxes are amoung the strongest.

God is also [[omnipotent]], and all knowing. God sees all, hears all, and knows all. Using his unicorn like strength God can destroy nations, as seen in Numbers 24 8 "God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows."<ref>http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2024%20;&version=9;</ref>

== Evangelism ==

In what Christians sometimes call the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), Jesus sent his disciples out into the world to preach the Gospel (literally "good news") and make disciples. The importance of preaching is later emphasized in the New Testament (Romans 10:14). Christians consequently spend a great deal of energy and money in evangelistic efforts. It should be noted, however, that Jesus Christ said it was the Holy Spirit, not people, who was sent to convict the world concerning sin and righteousness (John 16:8). Also, Christian leaders after him credited God, not people, with the growth and maturity of the Church (1 Corinthians 3:5-7). In other words, Christians are instructed to tell others about Jesus, but only God can make a change in the heart (John 6:45).

== Christian beliefs ==

Church leaders, theologians and scholars over two millennia have struggled to provide a definitive summary of the Christian faith. While its interpretations vary drastically, probably the most commonly accepted statement of faith is the Nicene Creed below:

<blockquote>I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose Kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.</blockquote>

Christians and Christian denominations disagree on many points of doctrine. According to an online Harris poll from 2003[1] 99% of all American Christians believe in God, 96% in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 93% in Heaven, 93% in the virgin birth, 92% in the survival of the soul after death, 82% in Hell, 50% in ghosts, 27% in astrology and 21% in reincarnation. Note that the latter two beliefs are in opposition to the religious dogma of most Christian denominations.

Nonetheless, the Nicene Creed offers a general overall picture of what Christian theology looks like, and serves as a useful outline.

Other creeds may prove helpful in research. See also: the Apostle's Creed, Athanasian Creed.

== Christian moral teaching ==

The fundamental principle in Christian moral teaching is love, as expressed by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the New Testament. Jesus summarized his teachings in two commandments from the Old Testament:

"'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-39; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18)

Constant debate has resulted as to how a person should express love for God in their moral behavior. This moral dialogue found expression in the New Testament, where the Apostle Paul addressed such controversies as circumcision (Romans 2:25-29), eating meat that was sacrificed to pagan deities (1 Corinthians 8), speculating about myths and genealogies (1 Timothy 1:3-5), and observing ceremonial dates and seasons (Galatians 4:9-11).

Regardless of a person's ethical interpretations, adherents commonly point to New Testament passages John 3:16 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 as scriptural depictions of love. The former states that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." The latter characterizes love, saying "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Jesus Christ affirmed, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35)

== Christians and politics ==

Christians have exerted themselves in the political arena for nearly two thousand years. But one should remember that Jesus Christ was neither a political activist nor a political philosopher. His only directly political statement is found in Mark 12:14-17, where in the discussion of whether to pay taxes, he said, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Most Christians take this saying to mean that one ought to honor their authorities with the appropriate respect and service, an attitude reflected elsewhere in the New Testament (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:12-14, 17). Various interpretations of this principle have been practiced since Christ.

In America, many Christians feel it is not only their constitutional right, but a religious duty to participate in the active democracy. Some feel they have a moral obligation to influence American politics and society in order that they exemplify more Christian ideals. Christian political advocacy groups such as the Christian Coalition work toward this end. These tend to favor more hot button issues like abortion, homosexuality, adolescent sex and the theory of evolution, and have come to be associated with the political right wing, the Republican Party in particular.

Some Christians have criticized these advocacy groups for not pursuing moral issues they feel are equally important. Examples include poverty (Luke 18:22), judicial equality (Exodus 23:6; Deuteronomy 10:18), animal rights (Proverbs 12:10), and the environment (Genesis 1:28-30). Prominent exponents of secular humanism, but also moderate Christians, tend to characterize Christian conservatives' stance on sexual morality, gender equality, and the teaching of evolution as intractable, prejudicial and sometimes, with the exception of evolution, even as immoral. This has lead to what many see as a national conflict of values.

Because of these and other such disputes, it is vitally important to stress that many devout practicing Christians are not politically conservative, and that Christ never personally endorsed any particular brand of political thinking.

==Christianity and Paganism==
There are many links between Christianity and paganism. For example, many of the holidays, such as Christmas or Easter, take place during pagan celebrations. Chrismas falls near the winter solstice, a time of great celebration, and Easter takes place around the beginning of spring, another important time of year.

== See also ==

*[[Christian apologetics]] (Defense of Christianity)
*[[Catholic Church]] (the original Christian Church)
*[[Roman Catholic Church]] (Western branch of the Catholic Church)
*[[Orthodox Church]] (Eastern branch of the Catholic Church)
*[[Protestant]]
*[[Anglican]]
*[[Episcopal Church]] (Non-UK branch of the Anglican Church)
*[[Presbyterian]]
*[[Baptist]]
*[[Methodist]]
*[[Mennonite]]
*[[Amish]]
*[[Lutheran]]
*[[Evangelical Christians]]
*[[Conservative Christianity]]
*[[Fundamentalist Christians]]
*[[Liberal Christianity]]
*[[Judaism]]
*[[Islam]]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category: Christianity| ]]
[[Category:Religion]]

Salvation

2007-03-17T07:26:51Z

Mattk:

Salvation is a word commonly used to describe the goal of Christians. Salvation is also called "Eternal Life" and "Life Everlasting." Salvation should not be confused with Heaven nor with the Resurrection. But before Salvation can be considered one must know what one is bing saved from.

'''Sin'''
In short, sin and its consequence death are the things Christians seek salvation from. Simply put, sin is wrong doing. In the Words of St. John the Evangelist, "''Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has either seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right is righteous, as He is righteous. He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God commits sin; for God's nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God. By this it may be seen who are children of Cod, and who are children of the devil; whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother'' (1 Jn 3:4-10).

'''Salvation in the New Testament'''
In the New Testement it is possible to see that people are saved by repentence and baptism (Acts 2:38), belief (John 3:16), calling on the Lord (Romans 10:13), giving to the poor (Matthew 25:31-46), destruction of the flesh by Satan (1 Corinthians 5:5), the life of Jesus (Romans 5:10), child bearing (1 Timothy 2:15), belief and baptism (Mark 16:16), and faith (Luke 7:50).

'''Atonement'''
According to Christians the key event necessary for salvation is atonement. Atonment can be understood as that act which makes salvation possible. The act of atonment is the Crucifixion of Jesus. Thre are several theories that try to explain exactly how the the Crucifixion atones. They include the ''Cristus Victor Theory'', the ''Ransom Theory'', and the ''Satisfaction Theory''.

'''Salvation in Calvinist Thought'''
In Calvinist theology human beings have no ability to influence whether or not they will be saved. Essentially, because man is totally depraved he is unwilling and unable to do any of the things required to be saved. Not even whether or not to believe or have faith in Jesus is within the power of man. Therefore, if anyone is to be saved, God must save them. In Calvinist soteriology, God saves some people by predestinating them to have faith in Jesus and repent of their sins. This idea is developed out of Martin Luther's theology, notably in ''Bondage of the Will'' and his ''Commenatry on Romans'' in which he side-steps the issue of predestination but not depravity.

'''Theosis'''
The Orthodox Church has an understanding of salvation that is different from both Protestants and Roman Catholics. They understand salvation, not so much as having sins forgiven but as becoming like God in a process called Theosis. The idea is ancient, as can be see in New Testament and patristic texts such as these:

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."-- 1 Peter 2:14

"We are not made gods from the beginning; first we are mere humans, then we become gods." --St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Adv Haer III IV:38:4

"Let us become the image of the one whole God, bearing nothing earthly in ourselves, so that we may consort with God and become gods, receiving from God our existence as gods" --St. Maximus the Confessor, On Theology, 7.73

"For the Son of God became man, that we might become God." --St. Athanasius of Alexandria, On The Incarnation.

The Orthodox see the Sacraments (which they call the Holy Mysteries) as the main way a person attains theosis and is saved.

Talk:Salvation

2007-03-15T02:31:10Z

Mattk:

Salvation

2007-03-15T01:59:09Z

Mattk:

Salvation is a word commonly used to describe the goal of Christians. Salvation is aslo called "Eternal Life" and "Life Everlasting." Salvation should not be confused with Heaven nor with the Resurrection.

== Salvation in the New Testament ==

In the New Testement it is possible to see that people are saved by repentence and baptism (Acts 2:38), belief (John 3:16), calling on the Lord (Romans 10:13), giving to the poor (Matthew 25:31-46), destruction of the flesh by Satan (1 Corinthians 5:5), the life of Jesus (Romans 5:10), child bearing (1 Timothy 2:15), belief and baptism (Mark 16:16), and faith (Luke 7:50).

== Salvation in Calvinist Thought ==

In Calvinist theology human beings have no ability to influence whether or not they will be saved. Essentially, because man is totally depraved he is unwilling and unable to do any of the things required to be saved. Not even whether or not to believe or have faith in Jesus is within the power of man. Therefore, if anyone is to be saved, God must save them. In Calvinist soteriology, God saves some people by predestinating them to have faith in Jesus and repent of their sins. This idea is developed out of Martin Luther's theology, notably in ''Bondage of the Will'' and his ''Commenatry on Romans'' in which he side-steps the issue of predestination but not depravity.