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.

This word is and has been primarily used in Christian theological studies. Soteriology is the branch of Christian theology that deals with salvation as the effect of assistance from a divine agency [1].

Christianity
Christian soteriology has traditionally focused on how, through faith, people can take advantage of the atonement for sin through Jesus Christ and this construct still predominates among tradition. Jesus Christ has an abundance of grace, in their way of thinking, and this grace can come into a person's life as they accept Christ's teachings and role in their own lives (John 3:16). Some traditional Christian sects have a higher emphasis on the mere acceptance of Christ for salvation, while others create more of a soteriological focus on one's discipleship and interactions with the body of believers. Other modern (and different) Christian theological groups emphasize Christ's role as an example only. They call into question the theological necessity of an atonement, given an infinitely merciful deity. A variety of soteriological theories have been put forth within the Christian faith. These can generally be lumped into schools: Arminianism, Calvinism's predestination, and Melanchthon created a particular Lutheran idea, within the Protestant denominations.

Islam
Islamic soteriology focuses on how humans can repent of and atone for their sins so as not to occupy a state of loss. Salvation in the afterlife comes from God's recognition and acceptance of the individual, with regards to their virtue, obedience and/or good deeds performed in their earthly life.

Sikhism
Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. This meditation is meant to bring a person in union with God.

Hinduism
Hinduism, which teaches that humans 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."

Jainism
Jainism emphasizes penance and asceticism meant to lead to a liberation and ascendance of the soul. A Christian looking at this notion of soteriology might find a parallel from John 17:3.

Buddhism
Buddhism focuses on attaining liberation from suffering. Mahayana Buddhism, practiced in China and Japan is more savior-based, looking for help or assistance from a mayitria (meaning a god or spirit or "great one") to assist the meditator, who may in time become one with the gods and therefore "achieve" Nirvana. Theravada Buddhism, which more prevalent in Thailand, Sri Lanka and other parts of Southeast Asia, has a soteriology more like the Hindu philosophy. A monk or practitioner of Theravada Buddhism will meditate and become more ascetic in an attempt to escape the sufferings inherent in the wheel of dharma. "Moksha" to them means "release," or in other words they become nothingness (Nirvana in this sense is not heaven, but nonexistence) and are not condemned to further reincarnations. It is very different from a Christian interpretation of salvation.

Hellenic philosophy
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. In the Neoplatonism of Iamblichus one is saved through the process of henosis.

Shintoism and Judaism
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. The concern is not so much for one's own benefit after this life, but so that humans as a group can better their lot as everyone practises more virtuous and ethical behavior.

Confucianism
According to Confucianist teachings, a person cannot save themselves. While their good deeds create good karma and merit (called boon), a person cannot use it for themselves. This merit can be used to help one's ancestors, though, who are waiting in the spirit world and need help from the younger generation. In this way the children assist in the salvation of the parents.