Video
Articles And Essays
Religion Behind the Scenes
Podcasts
Featured Writers
Buddhism
Catholic
Contemplative
Evangelical
General Christian
Hindu
Jewish
Latter-day Saint
More Voices
Muslim
New Visions
Pagan
Progressive Christian
Entertainment
Life Events
Book Club
Politics Blue
Docsology
Politics Red
Movie Club
Public Square
Family And Relationships
See All Topics
TOP COLUMNISTS
Jack Lee
Evangelical
Eric Richards
Latter-day Saint
Peter T. Chattaway
Entertainment
Sunil Daman
Hindu
Keith Giles
Progressive Christian
Roger Olson
Evangelical
Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC
Catholic
see all columnists
NEW Patheos Answers
Faith Leaders Database
Anglican Episcopalian
Bahai
Baptist
Buddhism
Christianity
Confucianism
Eastern Orthodoxy
Hinduism
Holiness and Pentecostal
ISKCON
Islam
Judaism
Lutheran
Methodist
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
New Age
Paganism
Presbytarian and Reformed
Protestantism
Roman Catholic
Scientology
Shia Islam
Sikhism
Sufism
Sunni Islam
Taoism
Zen
See all religions
Research Tools
Comparison Lens
Preacher Resources
Teacher Resources
Newsletters
Books of the Bible Study series
History of the Bible
7 Day Prayer Challenge for Spouses
A Different Kind of Christian
Jesus is Love
Prayer Devotional
The Saints We Love
FaithChatter Conversation Cards
Featured Writers
Articles And Essays
Religion Behind the Scenes
Video
Podcasts
See All
RELIGION LIBRARY
Jainism
Toggle navigation
Overview
Origins
History
Beliefs
Rituals and Worship
Ethics and Community
Sacred Narratives
Ahimsa Paramo Dharma: non-violence is the highest religion. Violence and attachment attract karma, a sticky physical substance that clings to human souls, binding them to samsara. Jains can attain liberation by burning off these karmas through strict adherence to non-violence.
Ultimate Reality and Divine Beings
Jainism postulates no creator god. The unfortunate union of soul and matter propels the cycle of samsara. Tirthankaras are enlightened human teachers attributed with supernatural characteristics. The universe consists of three realms: hellish; earthly/heavenly; and that of siddhas (liberated souls).
Human Nature and the Purpose of Existence
Every sentient being has a soul mired in material karmic particles that block its spiritual path. Action, particularly action with attachment, attracts karma to the soul throughout successive reincarnations. Karma must be burned off in order to reach liberation.
Suffering and the Problem of Evil
All sentient beings do harm simply by existing. This harmful action and the karmas it generates are at the root of all suffering. The evil and violence inherent to this existence prove to Jains the absence of a creator god.
Afterlife and Salvation
Following liberation one's jiva ascends to the apex of the universe to join other siddhas. One can ascend to a heavenly realm due to good karmas accrued, but must return to a human incarnation in order to achieve final liberation.
History
Rituals and Worship
Back to religion Library
editors picks
View All Columns
Evangelical
Before You Unplug or Sign Out for Good
Guest Contributor
Evangelical
What Is the Purpose of Spiritual Gifts, and How Do You Discover Yours?
Randy Alcorn
New Visions
5 Ways to Hear What God is Telling You
Tom Rapsas
Muslim
How Awake Are We? When Waking Up is Falling Asleep
Daniel Thomas Dyer
Latter-day Saint
"The Church supports the use of vaccinations"
Dan Peterson
Evangelical
Luther and the Beauty of Christ
Guest Contributor
Entertainment
The Soul of Gospel Music Explored in New Netflix Series "Voices of Fire"
DeWayne Hamby
Contemplative
Seven Ways to Think About Christian Mysticism
Carl McColman
Evangelical
Cancelling Alice Walker?
Philip Jenkins
Evangelical
Does God Have His Own Logic?
Roger E. Olson
Patheos
Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.