Christian cosmology and theology are closely linked. In this chapter we are focused on mainstream Christian views. In the New Religious Movements chapter, you will find alternative views of both cosmology, the organization of the universe and theology, the nature of God. Christian cosmology is firmly linked to ideas about anthropology, the nature of humanity and its problems; and to soteriology, how human beings can solve those problems.

Anthropology in Christianity

In Christianity, the concept of the soul is an essential part of humanity. “Soul” is related to the Latin words anima and spiritus. All of animate creation shares in the notion of spirit:

• All Plants, Animals, and Humans have a vital spirit or soul.
• Animals and Humans have a Sensitive or Sensible spirit or soul.
• Humans, Angels, and God have a Rational or Intellectual spirit or soul.

Notice that the rational soul is a characteristic of humans, angels, and God. Only humans have all three characteristics of vitality, sensibility, and rationality.

Sin is only possible with a rational soul, which can choose its actions. Sin involves disobedience and a resulting alienation from God. Paul of Tarsus argued that all humans are born with original sin, inherited from Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden. Through his crucifixion, Jesus atoned for this sin. If people believe in Jesus and the redemption of sin, they are freed from original sin. In Paul’s view, Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament covenant with God.

Soteriology in Christianity

Paul of Tarsus established the doctrine of salvation through faith in Jesus early in the history of Christianity:

Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are now justified by grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, [made] effective through faith. (Romans 3.23-25; NRSV)

As Christianity developed, the path to salvation changed as well. The earliest description of salvation focused on belief in Jesus. Paul argued that salvation was a gift from God, and that humans cannot earn their salvation through good behavior alone.

In the medieval period, the Church added the seven sacraments (see Doctrine section) and four afterlife destinations based on a person’s actions during life:

• Heaven: in rare cases, a soul is determined to be so free of sin during life that they ascend to heaven directly.
• Purgatory: a non-permanent place of suffering. A person who believes in Christ as the savior, has been baptized and received the sacraments qualifies for purgatory. The suffering itself burns off the ordinary sins (venial sins) that people committed during life. Persons who have committed mortal sins and because of them have turned away from God and salvation and not repented before death will be unable to enter the state of purgatory.
• Limbo: a permanent place with a neutral quality. Reserved for unbaptized infants who have original sin but no other sins. Also reserved for the Patriarchs who came before Jesus Christ.
• Hell: a permanent place of endless suffering for those who neither believe nor repent.

Protestant views of Salvation

As you read in the historical overview, Martin Luther resisted the Roman Catholic soteriological scheme. He insisted that humans are saved by scripture, faith, and grace alone. Luther reduced the number of essential sacraments to baptism and holy communion based on his view of salvation.

John Calvin emphasized the idea of predestination, which states that God already has selected those who will be saved, and those who will be damned (sent to hell). In this Protestant model of salvation, there are only two afterlife destinations: heaven and hell. The best one can do is to live a good Christian life and hope to be one of those whom God has elected to end up in heaven.