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= Soteriology = Soteriology (/səˌtɪəriˈɒlədʒi/; Greek: σωτηρία sōtēria "salvation" from σωτήρ sōtēr "savior, preserver" and λόγος logos "study" or "word"[1]) is the study of religious doctrines of salvation.

In the academic field of religious studies, soteriology is understood by scholars as representing a key theme in a number of different religions and is often studied in a comparative context; that is, comparing various ideas about what salvation is and how it is obtained. It should also be noted that the term soteriology is most commonly associated with the Christian concept of salvation That being said, for the purposes of this page the term will be used in a broad sense, so as to encompass major world religious beliefs.

Hinduism
Because of the vastness of the term Hinduism, soteriological understanding can be applied to the encompassing idea of Moksha or liberation in the Vedic sense. The term Hinduism itself was established to group together many traditions in India which found the roots of their teachings and practices in the Vedas (Ancient Indian religious texts). For purposes of simplicity, Moksha can be seen as the overarching goal for most Hindus, the idea being to finally liberate oneself from the cycles of death and rebirth (reincarnation) known as Saṃsāra. The direct paths to liberation in Hinduism vary widely from tradition to tradition, however, it is widely accepted that to attain this liberation, one must eliminate negative Karma. In more precise terms found in the book Reformist Sects and the Sociology of Religion in India, author and sociologist C.N. Venugopal notes, "Hindu soteriology rests on the renunciation of worldly ties and the attainment of a beatific stage wherein the cycle of births and deaths does not operate".

Sikhism
Similar to Hinduism, Sikhism finds many of its roots in Vedic teachings. That being said, it may be beneficial to address the soteriological aspect of Sikhism in terms of Liberation or Moksha. Although it is similar in many ways to the Christian understanding of salvation, Sikhism advocates a union with God attainable through the guidance and direction of a guru and salvation is delineated as a break in the cycle of birth and death common to Indian spiritual tradition. Another aspect or step toward salvation promoted by Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak, was the rejection of ascetic isolation, a practice promoted largely by Hinduism. Instead, Nanak suggested his followers to practice a life of detachment in the sense of refraining from worldly pleasures while still participating in the life of the community.