Collective salvation
Encyclopedia
Collective salvation is the religious
belief that members of a group collectively influence the salvation
of the group to which they belong. Collective salvation can teach that the group is collectively one person by its nature. The concept of collective salvation is sometimes taught in Christianity
, Islam
, and Judaism
.
Traditional Jewish theology predicted that collective salvation for the Jews would be brought by the Jewish Messiah
. The book of Daniel
states that there will be both collective forgiveness for the Jews, and individual judgment of unrighteous people.
This idea was promoted by Cyprian
in the 3rd century
, before the Edict of Milan
, when most Christians were persecuted and lived outside of society. Augustine of Hippo
also discussed this topic in City of God, noting that some taught that the entire Catholic Church would be saved. At that time many taught that 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 which describes Christians as "one body" implied collective salvation. Augustine rejected the concept, maintaining that people who live immoral lives can never be saved, even if they partake of the Eucharist
.
Collective salvation was often rejected by early proponents of Christian monasticism
. The Desert Fathers
of Egypt in the 4th century
advocated withdrawal from society to focus on individual salvation through individual isolation and prayer
. However, in the Middle ages
monastic movements often gave more attention to the idea of collective salvation and devoted much of their time to collective prayer and prayer for the dead
.
Scholars such as Hans Conzelmann
have argued that the concept is found in the Christian scriptures, such as the Gospel of Luke
.
Some Muslim movements have also emphasized collective salvation, believing that the Quran speaks of both individual and collective salvation. Many Turkish
writers have depicted an ideal transformation of society into an ideal Islamic culture. The Iranian intellectual Ali Shariati
taught that Muslim societies could find collective salvation through revolutionary political movements. He believed that much of institutionalized Islam needed to be transformed into a revolutionary ideology.
The theology of collective salvation has often been linked with Millennialism
, a belief which forecasts an imminent transition to freedom from human suffering and oppression. Proponents of Millennialist views often teach that collective salvation will soon be granted to a certain group. Some Millennialist groups foresee an earthly collective salvation
, while other believe that it will only be granted in Heaven
. Many 19th century American adherents to Postmillennialism
believed that evangelism
and charitable deeds could bring about collective salvation on earth. Those who believe in Millennialist collective salvation often teach that there is both a supernatural gift and a human role involved in that salvation. Some maintain that the transition will be the result of a sudden catastrophe (sometimes called an "apocalypse
"), while others believe that human progress will progressively lead to such a state.
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
belief that members of a group collectively influence the salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
of the group to which they belong. Collective salvation can teach that the group is collectively one person by its nature. The concept of collective salvation is sometimes taught in Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, and Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
.
Traditional Jewish theology predicted that collective salvation for the Jews would be brought by the Jewish Messiah
Jewish Messiah
Messiah, ; mashiah, moshiah, mashiach, or moshiach, is a term used in the Hebrew Bible to describe priests and kings, who were traditionally anointed with holy anointing oil as described in Exodus 30:22-25...
. The book of Daniel
Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel is a book in the Hebrew Bible. The book tells of how Daniel, and his Judean companions, were inducted into Babylon during Jewish exile, and how their positions elevated in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. The court tales span events that occur during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar,...
states that there will be both collective forgiveness for the Jews, and individual judgment of unrighteous people.
This idea was promoted by Cyprian
Cyprian
Cyprian was bishop of Carthage and an important Early Christian writer, many of whose Latin works are extant. He was born around the beginning of the 3rd century in North Africa, perhaps at Carthage, where he received a classical education...
in the 3rd century
Christianity in the 3rd century
The 3rd century of Christianity was largely the time of the Ante-Nicene Fathers who wrote after the Apostolic Fathers of the 1st and 2nd centuries but before the First Council of Nicaea in 325...
, before the Edict of Milan
Edict of Milan
The Edict of Milan was a letter signed by emperors Constantine I and Licinius that proclaimed religious toleration in the Roman Empire...
, when most Christians were persecuted and lived outside of society. Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
also discussed this topic in City of God, noting that some taught that the entire Catholic Church would be saved. At that time many taught that 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 which describes Christians as "one body" implied collective salvation. Augustine rejected the concept, maintaining that people who live immoral lives can never be saved, even if they partake of the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
.
Collective salvation was often rejected by early proponents of Christian monasticism
Christian monasticism
Christian monasticism is a practice which began to develop early in the history of the Christian Church, modeled upon scriptural examples and ideals, including those in the Old Testament, but not mandated as an institution in the scriptures. It has come to be regulated by religious rules Christian...
. The Desert Fathers
Desert Fathers
The Desert Fathers were hermits, ascetics, monks, and nuns who lived mainly in the Scetes desert of Egypt beginning around the third century AD. The most well known was Anthony the Great, who moved to the desert in 270–271 and became known as both the father and founder of desert monasticism...
of Egypt in the 4th century
Christianity in the 4th century
Christianity in the 4th century was dominated by Constantine the Great, and the First Council of Nicea of 325, which was the beginning of the period of the First seven Ecumenical Councils and the attempt to reach an orthodox consensus and to establish a unified Christendom as the State church of...
advocated withdrawal from society to focus on individual salvation through individual isolation and prayer
Christian prayer
Prayer is an important activity in Christianity, and there are several different forms of Christian prayer.Christian prayers are diverse: they can be completely spontaneous, or read entirely from a text, like the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. The most common prayer among Christians is the Lord's...
. However, in the Middle ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
monastic movements often gave more attention to the idea of collective salvation and devoted much of their time to collective prayer and prayer for the dead
Prayer for the dead
Wherever there is a belief in the continued existence of man's personality through and after death, religion naturally concerns itself with the relations between the living and the dead...
.
Scholars such as Hans Conzelmann
Hans Conzelmann
Hans Conzelmann was a German scholar who made many contributions to New Testament research in the twentieth century. One of his major works was Die Mitte Der Zeit , literally 'The Middle of Time', which was translated into English under the title, The Theology of St. Luke...
have argued that the concept is found in the Christian scriptures, such as the Gospel of Luke
Gospel of Luke
The Gospel According to Luke , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Luke or simply Luke, is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels. This synoptic gospel is an account of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It details his story from the events of his birth to his Ascension.The...
.
Some Muslim movements have also emphasized collective salvation, believing that the Quran speaks of both individual and collective salvation. Many Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
writers have depicted an ideal transformation of society into an ideal Islamic culture. The Iranian intellectual Ali Shariati
Ali Shariati
Ali Shariati was an Iranian revolutionary and sociologist, who focused on the sociology of religion. He is held as one of the most influential Iranian intellectuals of the 20th century and has been called the 'ideologue of the Iranian Revolution'.-Biography:Ali....
taught that Muslim societies could find collective salvation through revolutionary political movements. He believed that much of institutionalized Islam needed to be transformed into a revolutionary ideology.
The theology of collective salvation has often been linked with Millennialism
Millennialism
Millennialism , or chiliasm in Greek, is a belief held by some Christian denominations that there will be a Golden Age or Paradise on Earth in which "Christ will reign" for 1000 years prior to the final judgment and future eternal state...
, a belief which forecasts an imminent transition to freedom from human suffering and oppression. Proponents of Millennialist views often teach that collective salvation will soon be granted to a certain group. Some Millennialist groups foresee an earthly collective salvation
World to Come
The World to Come is an eschatological phrase reflecting the belief that the "current world" is flawed or cursed and will be replaced in the future by a better world or a paradise. The concept is similar to the concepts of Heaven and the afterlife, but Heaven is another place generally seen as...
, while other believe that it will only be granted in Heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
. Many 19th century American adherents to Postmillennialism
Postmillennialism
In Christian end-times theology, , postmillennialism is an interpretation of chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation which sees Christ's second coming as occurring after the "Millennium", a Golden Age in which Christian ethics prosper...
believed that evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
and charitable deeds could bring about collective salvation on earth. Those who believe in Millennialist collective salvation often teach that there is both a supernatural gift and a human role involved in that salvation. Some maintain that the transition will be the result of a sudden catastrophe (sometimes called an "apocalypse
Apocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
"), while others believe that human progress will progressively lead to such a state.