SALVATION
Salvation is typically understood as personal deliverance from “sin” and its consequences. It is a religious term associated, by virtue of Christian theology, with: inherent guilt, fear and powerlessness.
Many Unitarian Universalists reject this word outright because it seems so contrary to the First Principle: “the inherent worth and dignity of all”. And to the freedoms claimed within this religious tradition. Others, in choosing to grapple with that word reject the definition while reaching for more affirming and empowering understandings of what that word could mean.
For example, the very real experiences of exile, slavery and persecution that shaped the Jewish tradition, led to a focus on collective (rather than personal) salvation. The Jewish People, as a whole, were to be delivered/saved from injustice. As such, in that context, salvation is recognized as a collective need and endeavor, that is closely linked with justice-making.
It’s important to know that the need for this-world salvation extends to all people, even in this day and age. So many are held captive to poverty and violence; are slaves to ignorance and fear. Deliverance, aka salvation, could come in the form of empowering, hope-inducing fair wages, gun reform legislation, reproductive health education and alternative energy solutions.
On a more personal level, it must be acknowledged that all human beings find themselves, at times, trapped in despair and hopelessness, needing help. Instead of seeing that as an inherent flaw, it could be lifted up as a sign of interdependence and empowerment. Because we each are empowered to offer salvation to one another - in the form of a smile, a kind word, a compassionate ear or warm invitation into this beloved community, covenanted to “create deeper and more joyful lives” for all.
Below: an audio recording of my sermon on Salvation: