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Human Solidarity and Jainism
(The challenge of our Times)
The challenge of our Times
Ours is the age of reason, science and technology. They have done great service to mankind by removing superstitions and false dogmas, by understanding the real nature of world as well as by providing the amenities of pleasant living respectively. Now-a-days, we, due to the tremendous advancement of science and technology have light-legged means of transportation; physical distances have no bars to meet the people of different nationalities, cultures and religions. Our world is shrinking and consequently we have been more interdependent in every sphere of our life as we were never before. But, unluckily and disdainfully, distances of our hearts are increasing day by day. Human race was divided in the past and is being divided at present also in the name of caste, colour and creed by so called those political, religious and social leaders, who want to serve their vested interest. We are becoming more and more selfish and neglecting the claims of greater goodness of mankind as a whole.
The growth of scientific knowledge and outlook has destroyed our superstitions and false dogmas, but unfortunately and surprisingly it has shaken our faith in religious morality and spiritual values. Today we know more about the atom and atomic forces than the values needed for meaningful and peaceful life. This advancement of our knowledge could not sublimate our animal and selfish nature. Animal nature within us is still dominating our individual as well as social behaviour. Our life, so to say, is full of excitements, emotional disorders and mental tensions. Though, we are wordly pleading for peace, non-violence and co-existence, by heart we still believe in the law of jungle i.e. the dictum 'might is right'. The race of nuclear
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