Breaking Free from Saviourism: The Power of Self-Responsibility in Spirituality

Messiah inspired saviourism is pervasive in our culture.

Many women want a man to save them - from poverty / having to work.

Many men want women to save them from emotional and domestic responsibility.

Many artists want to be saved by a wealthy patron

Many musicians want to be saved by a record deal

Many many more want to be rescued by a jackpot lottery win.

Many want to be saved by government.

Cults are able to thrive because of this deep unspoken need to be saved.

We are beginning to examine our relationship with saviourism and I think it’s a good thing.

Because the shadow side of saviourism is exploitation. Manipulation. Oppression.

I don’t believe we should desire either to be saved or to save others.

We are our own Messiah.

Spirituality is not exempt from this.

Many transpose messiah like qualities on to deities / divine archetypes and forces of nature. We even do this with ancestors.

We create a subservient relationship with them due to this desire to be rescued.

This can create negative unintended consequences of powerlessness.

It’s a fine line to tread, to accept support but not hierarchy. To accept relationship and not submission.

Originally posted on Threads