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against an enemy, having a human heart. Its success becomes dubitable if it has to deal with an enemy having no faith in human values and is bent upon serving his selfish motives by violent means.
So far as the existence of human society is concerned it depends on mutual co-operation, sacrifice of one's interest for that of his fellow-beings and regard for other's life. If above mentioned elements are essential for our social life, how can we say that nonviolence is not necessary for human life. Society does not stand on violence but on non-violence, not on claiming our rights but on accepting the rights of others as our duty. Thus, the non-violence is aninevitable principle for the existence of human society. At present we are living in an age of nuclear weapons due to which the very existence of human race is in danger. Bhagwan Mahāvīra has said in Acārānga that there are weapons superior to each other, but nothing is superior to nonviolence. Observance of non-violence can only save the human race. Mutual credibility and the belief in the equality of all beings can alone restore peace and harmony in human society. Peace can be established and prosperity can be protected on the earth through non-violence and mutual faith-only.
REGARD FOR OTHER IDEOLOGIES
Fanaticism or intolerance is another curse of our age. Jainism, since its inception, believes in and preaches for peace, harmony and tolerance. It has been tolerant and respectful towards other faiths and religious ideologies throughout its history of existence. In Jainism, one hardly comes across with instances of religious conflicts involving violence and bloodshed. Almost one meets with instances of disputations and strongly worded debates concerning ideological disagreements. The Jaina
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Jainism and its History
