Salvation

We often associate the concept of salvation with organized religion. As a result, we think of God, heaven, hell, morality, etc. Religions, from Christianity to Islam, all tell us they know the way to achieve it. Behind all the rules it takes to reach salvation is a simple concept though— the ability to overcome fear.

If we look at the root of fear we most often find that it stems from our mortality. It's no surprise then that many people turn towards beliefs of eternity as a way to free themselves from the anxiety of possibly not existing. If one can reach a state where the natural instinct to physically preserve oneself can be exploited, a kind of superhuman quality is theirs. They have, in effect, conquered death. And by doing so, they come to achieve total freedom. This is the same for the atheist as it is for the deist.

With this definition of salvation, I'm not making any claims about an afterlife or a particular dogma. I'm only pointing out that, at the heart of salvation lies our desire for liberation. And, the only way to truly be free is to be unburdened by fear.

Salvation cannot merely be fearlessness through obstinance to the truth though, i.e. a sociopath, or someone who unflinchingly revels in amorality, for it’s only in completely embracing the most fundamental aspects of reality that it’s attained. Also, it can’t be actualized by the chronic tension of the moralist who only hopes they don’t atrophy before they succumb to life. Every good and bad possibility, from here to eternity, must be deeply accepted in some way. It’s what Nietzsche called amor fati and it’s how martyrs are able to stand in joy with their feet to the flames.