Reply #27: A word on "salvation" [View All]

[muriel_volestrangler]

it comes from salvare, Latin for "to save". "Salve" comes from Old English, German and Dutch words salf, Salbe and zalf, meaning ointment. So if there is a relation, it's way back and pre-Christian.

Having butted in, can I give you a quick atheist perspective? I'd tend to the 'dogmatic' school - that a Christian has to believe Jesus was divine. As others have pointed out, just following his example and philosophy doesn't distinguish you from Jews or Muslims (or even other religions if you stretch the definition of 'God'). You would at least have to believe he was 'annointed' in some special way to get the title of 'Christ'.

And some of the words attributed to Jesus do seem to point to him as claiming divine status (at least more than any other man) - eg John 14, including "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

I wouldn't say you need to believe the whole Nicene Creed, however. That was church politics as much as anything.