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                                         %SALVATION 770919

     Christians  have  traditionally viewed  salvation  in
terms  of  individualistic  cause and effect.    Salvation
pertains to an individual's soul/life.   Whether or not an
individual  enjoys  salvation  is an effect caused by  the
individual's thoughts and behavior and/or the  efforts  of
another individual,  Jesus.  Salvation is not perceived as
the result of cooperative group thoughts,   decisions, and
action.    The  ultimate responsibility for  salvation  is
individualistic--as   is   salvation  itself.    Religious
leaders promise salvation to individuals on the  basis  of
individualistic  behavior--on the part of Jesus and/or the
individuals to "be saved".

     So long as individuals perceive their  own  salvation
to be dependent upon their individualistic behavior---with
ultimate responsibility for the eternal welfare  of  their
soul  being  their own as an isolated individual--so  long
will  such  individuals  be unable  to  yield  significant
responsibility to a group or an intimate other.   Ultimate
responsibility can not be delegated when it is a matter of
ultimate concern.   By making salvation an individualistic
matter---traditional  religious  leaders  have  tended  to
undermine   the  formation  of  group  responsibility  for
corporate salvation in quality communal living.  Corporate
responsibilities and integrity can not flow from an adding
up of  individual responsibilities.   Group wisdom is  not
merely   an  arithmetic  collection   of   individualistic
wisdoms.

     Salvation  has to do with living guided by Love which
unconditionally  promotes  dialogue  between   essentially
different people--thus promoting corporate perceptions and
wisdom.    Individualistic  salvation  tends  to  generate
images  of a narrow door that competitors must struggle to
get   through  to  achieve   salvation--thus   occasioning
competition which undermines dialogue and community.  Love
does away with competition which undermines dialogue; such
competition  being  not  helpful  in  any meaningful  way.
Religious leaders need to come to terms with  salvation as
a  corporate reality,  rather than as  an  individualistic
goal in a COMPETITIVE process.  Salvation is impossible on
an individualistic basis.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
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