YJA Convention 1996 07 San Francisco CA Second

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

Page 69

Comparison: Indian Religions and Western Religions
Topic
Indian Religions
The True God
One true and absolute Self or God.
Many images of one supreme god
Proof and Knowing of God:
Paths to God and Salvation
God is pure love and consciousness. There are many paths to God by way of understanding, temperament,
and
maturity.
All souls are destined to receive Liberation.
Direct proof through self realization. Indirect proof through the enlightened Guru (teacher) and the revealed scriptures.
Knowing is personal, inner, and a mystical experience.
Ultimately one must know God during an earthly life.
Western Religions
There is only one true God and one true religion.
Beliefs may be dual or nondual (all paths lead to God).
God is loving as well as wrathful.
Those who accept God will enjoy God's grace. All others will suffer eternally in Hell.
Indirect proof through Prophets, Messiah, and Paygambar, through his unchanging and unique revealed scripture.
It is essential to seek personal knowledge of God. Socially oriented and extroverted. Ultimately one must have belief and faith, coupled with a virtuous life.
Freedom to choose own form of Only one path leads to God, worship. others are false and futile
Strictly dualistic (God and Man are separate)
Liberation or Salvation is through
self realization. Surrendering to God's Will. Descent of His grace through the enlightened spiritual preceptor. Salvation is will, through a
to be found in this life and
messiah/prophet..
One must accept the one true religion. Otherwise the soul, laden with sin, will be damned on Judgment Day. Salvation is through strict obedience to God's
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