salvumine

Salvumine is a term used in Estonian to denote salvation or deliverance. In religious contexts, it refers to being saved from sin and its consequences, or from peril. The word is commonly used in Christian discourse and liturgy, but also appears in secular speech to describe rescue from danger or harm.

In Christian theology, salvumine is a central category known as soteriology. It encompasses concepts of sin, guilt, grace, redemption, and reconciliation with God. Different traditions articulate it differently: Catholic and Orthodox theology emphasizes sacraments, grace, and the Church as mediator; Protestant traditions stress justification by faith and the sufficiency of Christ's atonement. Debates exist about whether salvation is limited to a particular community (exclusive) or available to all (universal), and about the role of human choice and good works.

Outside Christianity, other traditions offer analogous aims. In Islam, salvation is deliverance from divine punishment through submission to God and righteous deeds. In Hinduism, moksha represents liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Buddhism presents nirvana as the end of suffering and the extinguishing of greed, hatred, and delusion. In secular contexts, salvage or deliverance may refer to safety, rescue, or the preservation of values.

Scholarly study of salvation crosses theology, philosophy, and anthropology, examining how different cultures imagine rescue, meaning, and the hope of a future state. The term remains common in religious education, literature, and everyday language in Estonia and beyond.