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96: Śramana, Vol 62, No. 4, Oct.-Dec. 2011
Thus, the role of religion in today's society is to help heal the individual. When individuals are healed, families are healed, and when families are healed, society is healed. Dharma is conducive to the highest good. Most of the problems of today's society can be healed through following our religious moral codes.
Elements of Tolerance in Jaina religion: After deliberating on the role of religion aiming the welfare of society as a whole, in general, we must understand the various ways which the different co-religionists regard each other; we must understand how the various religious groups react to each other. In this context what is the approach of Jaina religion. We see some religious groups are indifferent to the teachings and the practices of other religions. Some maintain their religious affiliation and yet respect other religions and appreciate their teachings. Jainas belong to the religious group that accepts and appreciates the reasonable teachings of every religion. They can also tolerate the practices of other religious, cultural traditions and customs, although they may not necessarily wish to emulate them. In other words, they respect the other man's views and appreciate other practices without harbouring any religious prejudices. This is called religious tolerance.Jaina religion has much to contribute to build a pluralistic global system that is peaceful and compassionate.
Human Welfare: The Sole Aim
The Seers of every religion preaches only the basic tenets of his Oredr for the welfare: temporal as well as spiritual, of the whole mankind. His Teachings are organized as a religion by incorporating various religious rites, rituals, traditions and customs. Of course, these practices are important to introduce and to preserve religion amongst the masses. But for a man seeking to be good or to be religious, such ritualistic practices are not really important. Without doubt,all religious teachers have dedicated their lives for the sake of human welfare. They deserve respect and honour, for they also have done good service to mankind. They all have some characteristics common with others as well as specific features of their own.
