Jainism a Theistic Philosophy

Author(s): Krishna A Gosavi
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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JAINISM: A THEISTIC PHILOSOPHY "GOD IN JAINISM"
Invariably, whenever a person or philosophy or doctrine does not show belief in God as defined by the theistic philosophy, would be called atheist. It so happened in history that, early Christians were called atheist because they did not believe in what Greeks believed, nor as the Jews believed. Spinoza was called an atheist because his concept of God was wider than that of Jehovah; and the reformers were called atheist because they deified the mother of Christ or worshiped saints. Similarly, Jainism is called an atheistic philosophy, because it does not accept the God as creator, sustainer or destroyer of the universe as all others believe or it does not subscribe such attributes to God as all other philosophies or religions of the world do?
When M. Lap lace, the world renowned French scientist went to make a formal presentation of his famous work of the world to the conquering Emperor Napoleon, the later remarked "M. Lap lace, tell me, you have written this large book on System of Universe, and you have never mentioned its creator" whereupon M. Lap lace drew himself up and answered bluntly "Sir I had no need of such hypothesis."
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I. (iii) The View of Modern Indian Scholars about Theistic and Atheistic Nature of Jainism:
In India during Vedic period, idea of God was commonly accepted as religious, and the people prayed and worshipped God with devotion. They offered Him offerings of living and non-living things. Slaughter of beasts in various sacrifices in the name of God was very common in India and also in various parts of world. God in this sense was accepted as a personality with immense power, knowledge and pervasion. He was to be a creator, sustainer and destroyer of the universe. Jainism does not believe in such a concept of God and according to Jaina Acaryas, this conception of God is the root cause of degeneration of individual in society and it also belittled the position and dignity of man.
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Puran Chand Nahar, "An Epitome of Jainism", Calcutta, P- 259