Cosmic vs. Individual Salvation

Salvation is both something which can happen to an individual and also to the whole Cosmos since both are out of step with God. A look around at world events as well as individual behaviour need leave us in no doubt about that.

Some traditions focus on one or the other of these aspects but both are affirmed by most of them

Cosmic salvation in the Bible

A number of passages speak of this and of renewal of all creation. For instance:

 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Romans 8:19-23

 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Col 1:19-20

And Revelation 21 speaks of the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Cosmic Salvation in different traditions

Eastern Orthodox

• Very strong on cosmic salvation.
• Theosis is not only about humans becoming united to God, but the transfiguration of all creation.
• Icons, liturgy, and sacraments all reflect this — matter itself participates in redemption.
• Evil and death are defeated not just for humans but universally.

Roman Catholic

• The official teaching, especially at Vatican II and the Catechism, affirms the renewal of creation.
• The resurrection of the body and new heavens/new earth are central.
• Nevertheless, in popular Catholic spirituality, the individual journey after death (heaven/hell/purgatory) is often what people most think about.

Lutheran & Reformed

The new creation (resurrection of the body, new heavens/new earth) is affirmed.

Evangelical preaching

In the modern West has often reduced salvation to “going to heaven when you die,” but there’s now a strong recovery of the cosmic aspect (thanks in part to N. T. Wright, Richard Middleton, etc.).

Many Protestants today stress that salvation is about God’s kingdom come on earth (Lord’s Prayer) and the healing of all things.

Generally, since the last century, there has been a shift back to awareness of the Cosmic aspect of Salvation after a period where debates about justification and personal assurance often narrowed focus to the individual. Issues such as ecological crisis and global injustice has pushed theologians to recover the big picture: salvation as renewal of creation, society, and history.