Jainism Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===God=== {{Main|God in Jainism}} [[File:Jain 24-Tirthankaras.jpg|thumb|Jain miniature painting of 24 tirthankaras, [[Jaipur]], {{circa|1850}}]] Jainism is a [[transtheistic]] religion,{{sfn|Zimmer|1953|p=182}} holding that the [[Jainism and non-creationism|universe was not created]], and will exist forever.{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|p=241}} It is independent, having no creator, governor, judge, or destroyer.{{sfn|Long|2013|pp=83β85}}{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|pp=241β242}} In this, it is unlike the Abrahamic religions and the theistic strands of [[Hinduism]], but similar to Buddhism.{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|pp=241β243}} However, Jainism believes in the world of heavenly and hellish beings who are born, die and are reborn like earthly beings.{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|pp=247β249, 262β263}}{{sfn|Dundas|2002|pp=20β21, 34β35, 74, 91, 95β96, 103}} The souls who live happily in the body of a heavenly celestial do so because of their positive karma.{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|pp=262β263}} It is further stated that they possess a more transcendent knowledge about material things and can anticipate events in the human realms.{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|pp=262β263}} However, once their past karmic merit is exhausted, it is explained that their souls are reborn again as humans, animals or other beings.{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|pp=262β263}}{{sfn|Dundas|2002|pp=91, 95β96}} The perfect enlightened souls ''with'' a body are called ''[[Arihant (Jainism)|Arihants]]'' (victors) and perfect souls ''without'' a body are called ''[[Siddha]]s'' (liberated souls). Only a soul with human body can attain enlightenment and liberation. The liberated beings are the supreme beings and are worshipped by all heavenly, earthly and hellish beings who aspire to attain liberation themselves.{{Sfn|Jaini|1980|pp=222β223}}{{sfn|Zimmer|1953|p=182}}{{sfn|Rankin|Mardia|2013|p=40}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page