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Gunänuväda in Jainism
Guṇānuvāda in Jainism is distinct from guṇānuvada in the secular, atheistic, and religious applications exampled above. In Jainism, the qualities that are being worshiped with the intent to foster them in the self are actually divine attributes. In the example of the basketball gunānuvada, the qualities being worshiped might be physical prowess or accurate throwing of the ball. In the Humanist guṇānuvāda, the qualities might be full appreciation for all human beings, an appropriate attitude towards life, and faith in reason. Even though Jesus is considered God in Christianity, the WWJD guṇānuvada does not focus on Jesus' divine attributes, but on his human attributes. The wearer of the WWJD bracelet is not trying to foster the omni-properties, but just increased morality. In Jain guṇanuvada, the qualities are infinite knowledge, perception, bliss, and power. When the qualities being worshiped in guṇānuvāda are divine attributes, I call this guṇānutheism, and while it may be unsatisfactory, it fits better than atheism as a possible classification of Jain divinity.
Other possible classifications
Both Humanism and Jainism place much value on the potential of humans. A main difference is that Jainism gives humans the potential to be God. In the Article "Hindu Titanism," Nicholas Gier quotes Heinrich Zimmer, calling this the "heresy of Titanism," and it is characterized by the "preemption of divine prerogatives and confusion of human and divine attributes."29 Gier discusses but does not define the term spiritual Titanism. He defines Titanism as "a radical humanism that does not recognize that there are limits to what humans can become and what they should do."30 Any religion that takes part in the Titanism discussed by Gier and Zimmer, that is, the attainment of divine attributes by humans, can be considered a type of spiritual Titanism. The spiritual progress of the Arhat and Siddha from human to God is an exemplary form of spiritual Titanism. But spiritual Titanism is not an exclusive categorization, it just descriptive. Jainism can be spiritually titanic and theistic, atheistic, or anything in between.
L.R. Joshi, in "A New Interpretation of Indian Atheism," describes a number of Indian religions, including Jainism, as being semi-theistic. He defines semi-theism as a seemingly atheistic doctrine "which shows clear tendencies towards theism."31Semi-theismis a very
29 Gier, Nicholas F., "Hindu Titanism," Philosophy East and West, Vol. 45, No. 1 (January, 1995) p. 73 30 Ibid.
31 Joshi, "A New Interpretation of Indian Atheism." p. 205
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0
