Here's a breakdown of how the narrative achieves this:
* First-person perspective: The story is told from the perspective of a young boy, giving us an intimate and vulnerable view of his inner thoughts and feelings.
* Focus on emotional experience: The narrator's experience is highly emotional, highlighting his confusion, fear, and ultimately, disillusionment with the religious experience.
* Contrasting expectations vs. reality: The narrator initially expects a dramatic, emotional, and personal experience of salvation. However, the reality is far from this. The pressure from adults and the social environment make him feel compelled to lie about his "salvation."
* Critique of religious practices: The story critiques the use of emotional manipulation and social pressure to force individuals into religious experiences. The narrator's experience shows how this can lead to insincere conversions and a disconnect between faith and personal conviction.
* Themes of conformity and authenticity: The story explores the tension between conforming to societal expectations and finding one's own authentic path. The narrator struggles to reconcile his own doubts and beliefs with the pressure to fit in with the expectations of his community.
Ultimately, "Salvation" uses the narrator's experience to highlight the dangers of using manipulation and pressure in the name of religion and to question the true nature of faith.