Who Are the Jains? Why are They Growing



I've been trying to understand Jainism. It is a faith similar to Hinduism but is not Hinduism. It is found among people of Indian descent. Currently, professorships, courses and majors in Jainism are offered at well- known universities.

According to the link, there are Jain followers who have become very wealthy. A large group of them are Silcon Valley tech entrepreneurs. This wealth, combined with a Jain belief one is to give away wealth, makes it possible to fund Jain projects in many places. One is to fund university chairs in the faith which grow into departments. These, in turn, attract students. There are many students majoring in the Jain religion.

While I know little about the faith, it is hard to find fault with a faith where members actually give away their personal wealth. The "American way" is accumulating wealth and taking it from others when the opportunity presents itself. 

I don't know how true this is, but it is often repeated by religious people that a large segment of the public is attracted to religions which require personal sacrifice. In Christianity, this means forgoing pleasurable sins. In the Jain faith it is giving away one's wealth. If there is widespread appeal to this concept in the Western world it will change our society a lot. For example, it would completely undermine the society ideal of Donald Trump.

I hope to learn more about the Jain faith in the years ahead.  

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