Salvation
as the 'process of having safety'
Morphological analysis
- Etymon: The word salvation derives from Latin salvātiō meaning 'The act of setting free or extricating from danger, imprisonment, bondage, evil, etc.'.
- Morpheme breakdown: the prefix salus/salvs: 'safety' + -ate 'having' + suffix -tiō: 'process of' => the 'process of having safety'.
Essential definition
The etymology of salvation can be said to have evolved from the components salus: 'safety', -ate: 'having', and -tiō: 'process of', yielding the core literal meaning the 'process of having safety'.
Semantic context
- Conventional sense: In conventional use, salvation most commonly refers to the act of being saved or delivered from harm, ruin, or a dire situation, particularly from sin and its consequences in a religious context. (Note: Semantic drift from essential meaning)
- Essential meaning (my usage): The 'process of having safety'.
Philosophical significance
This redefinition philosophically shifts salvation from a singular event to a continuous, dynamic process of achieving and sustaining a state of protected being. It grounds an abstract spiritual concept in the fundamental human concern for safety, allowing for more universal and interdisciplinary discourse. This framing emphasizes the qualitative experience of being safe as the core outcome of the salvational process.
Usage in this lexicon
When I use the word salvation in my work, I mean exactly 'The process of having safety'. This definition:
- clarifies the term as an active and ongoing progression rather than a static event;
- emphasizes the attainment and maintenance of a state of protection;
- grounds the theological concept in a tangible, universally understood idea (safety);
- allows for a nuanced understanding that can encompass both initial rescue and sustained preservation;
- avoids potentially ambiguous or culturally loaded interpretations by using a foundational definition;
- provides a clear etymological basis for doctrinal or philosophical development;
- facilitates interdisciplinary dialogue by using a term common to multiple fields (e.g., psychology, engineering); and
- encourages consideration of the qualitative state (being safe) inherent in the process
Related terms
Sources
*This definition follows morphological essentialism principles. See the Methodology for details.
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