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SOME OPINIONS
-1HIGHLIGHTING THE CONTRIBUTION
The concept of divinity is a fundamental theme in religious studies and this work which deals with it with special reference to Jainism is indeed a contribution to the field. The author makes clear that not only is divinity a core concept in religion but also that in the context of the three indigenous religions of India, Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, not only does the concept of religion have to be flexible enough to satisfy all three but, accordingly, also the view of divinity.
This is a crucial point because of the variety of the Indian religions. The most significant outcome of the multifacetedness of Indian thought is that one can be religious without believing in a creator God. Even some the Hindus hold the view that a creator of the universe does not have to be any being, who is then defined as being omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. This so-called lib. erality of the Indian religions has led by and large to a tolerance of other views. Rather, it should be said that each of the religions accepts the fact that there are different views concerning the essential nature of human beings, of life as such, of the nature of the world and the origin of everything that exists. Each of the three basic Indian religions offers its own answers to these basic issues of religion.
Jainism holds a unique position among the Indian religions because, on the one hand, it shares with Buddhism the rejection of the Vedic world view and the ultimate authority of the Vedas on all matters concerning the nature of the world and the religious duty of all human beings. On the other hand, Jainism shares with Hinduism that view that the essential nature of human beings is characterised by the concept of jiva, which is a synonym for, atman or purusa, terms which the Buddhists reject as being ultimate cat. egories. Jainism shares with Hinduism and Buddhism certain views which are basic to the Indian religions, for example, the view that human beings are limited in their knowledge of reality as such (however this may be defined), of their own nature, that they are subject to the law of karman, which is the hallmark of their bond
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