Jainism Christianity And Science

Here's a comprehensive summary of Champat Rai Jain's "Jainism, Christianity and Science," based on the provided text:

Core Argument:

The central thesis of the book is that Jainism represents the oldest, purest, and most scientific understanding of salvation, and that the true teachings of Christianity, though obscured by allegory and misinterpretation, align remarkably with these Jaina principles. Modern science, despite its material focus, is gradually rediscovering aspects of this ancient wisdom.

Key Themes and Chapters:

1. Jainism as a Science:

   • Jainism is presented not as a religion in the conventional sense, but as a systematic "Science of Salvation."
   • Its core teaching is that the soul is the true self, distinct from the material body, which acts as a prison.
   • Souls are immortal and possess natural attributes of omniscience and bliss, which are obscured by matter.
   • Liberation (Nirvana) is achieved by freeing the soul from matter through spiritual practices.
   • The universe is eternal and governed by natural laws, not created by a deity.

2. Religion as a Science:

   • The author defines science as a systematic exposition of facts verifiable and yielding consistent results.
   • He argues that religion, if it is based on facts, must also be amenable to scientific treatment.
   • Jainism and early Christian thought, when stripped of allegory, are presented as fundamentally realistic and scientific, asserting the eternality of substances (souls and matter) and denying a creator.

3. The Role of Allegory:

   • A significant portion of the book is dedicated to demonstrating how Christian scriptures, particularly the New Testament, were deliberately written in allegorical, laconic, and sometimes incoherent language.
   • This was done to protect the true teachings from the "swine and dogs" (the uninitiated and intolerant masses) and to prevent their misinterpretation.
   • The author draws extensively from early Church Fathers (Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, etc.) to support the claim that the Apostles and early Christians understood the allegorical nature of their scriptures and the need for selective teaching.
   • Allegory, while initially attractive, is seen as the cause of humanity's misunderstandings and superstitions, leading to the loss of original Christian teachings.

4. Immortality and the Soul:

   • Jainism asserts the soul's immortality as a simple, indivisible substance.
   • Early Christian texts are cited to show a similar belief in an incorporeal, simple, and immortal soul, capable of taking on contraries and distinct from its material components.
   • The author argues that modern science's inability to directly detect the "soul" is due to its focus on material composition, while psychologists who acknowledge the unitary aspect of consciousness are moving closer to recognizing an immaterial substance.

5. Knowledge and Omniscience:

   • Jainism posits that knowledge is an intrinsic attribute of the soul, and true omniscience is achievable by freeing the soul from matter's obscuring influence.
   • Christian scriptures are interpreted to suggest that knowledge is revealed and inherent within the soul, and that individuals can attain a state of comprehensive knowledge.
   • The author draws parallels between the concept of Jinas (fully enlightened beings in Jainism) and the pursuit of omniscience in early Christianity, noting that Buddha also sought this state.

6. Happiness of Gods and Souls:

   • Jainism defines true happiness as the soul's natural state of bliss when freed from matter. Sensual pleasures are seen as inferior substitutes.
   • Christian texts are interpreted to emphasize the ultimate rest and joy found in spiritual liberation, a state of peace and freedom from earthly troubles.

7. Equality of Souls:

   • Jainism teaches that all souls are fundamentally alike in their natural properties, with differences arising only from embodiment. Liberated souls (Gods) are equal.
   • Christian texts are cited to suggest a similar underlying equality and potential for divinity in all human souls, with the concept of becoming "like God."

8. The Soul as its Own God:

   • Jainism proclaims that every perfected soul, by virtue of its natural immortality, omniscience, and bliss, is inherently divine and its own God.
   • Christianity, through passages like "Ye are Gods" and "the kingdom of God is within you," is seen to support this idea of inherent divinity and the potential for deification.

9. Wretched State of the Embodied Soul and the Physical Body as the Cause of Trouble:

   • The author argues that the soul's embodiment in matter deprives it of its natural attributes, leading to ignorance, mortality, and unhappiness.
   • Christian texts are presented as agreeing that the fleshly body and its desires are a source of sin and suffering, hindering spiritual progress. The desire is to be "rid of the body of this death."

10. Faith, Knowledge, and Conduct:

    • Jainism identifies Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct as the path to liberation, with Faith preceding Knowledge, and Conduct following.
    • Early Christian writings are interpreted to show a similar emphasis on faith as the foundation for knowledge and good works, leading to a state of perfection and salvation.

11. True Teachers and Allegorical Interpretation:

    • Jainism emphasizes the need for omniscient and selfless teachers (Tirthamkaras) who teach plainly.
    • The author argues that early Christian teachers, despite using allegory, were aware of its dangers and that their true teachings can be reconstructed by understanding the hidden, scientific sense behind the parables. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the "key of knowledge."

12. Twenty-Four Elders (Tirthamkaras) and Christian Parallels:

    • Jainism speaks of 24 Tirthamkaras (Great Teachers) appearing in cycles of time.
    • The author posits that the "Twenty-Four Elders" in the Christian Book of Revelation are a direct parallel to the Tirthamkaras, with the allegorical imagery of the "Hall of Initiation" supporting this connection.

13. Is There a Creator?

    • Jainism, like modern science, denies the existence of a creator, positing an eternal universe composed of substances.
    • The author argues that early Christian writings, despite outward appearances, also subtly reject a literal creator, suggesting their creation accounts are allegorical and that God has no natural relation to us.

14. Attributes of Divinity and Bondage of Sin:

    • Jainism describes liberated souls as divine beings, without sex, not all-pervading, and possessing infinite bliss and knowledge.
    • Christian texts are interpreted to reflect similar views on the nature of God and the soul's potential for divinity, emphasizing the need to break free from the "bondage of sin" caused by attachment to matter and desires.

15. Transmigration and Nirvana:

    • Jainism explicitly teaches transmigration (the soul taking on successive bodies) until Nirvana is achieved.
    • The author argues that Christian concepts like "resurrection" (especially the resurrection of the worthy) and the eventual transformation into angelic beings correspond to Nirvana, while "resurrection in flesh" signifies rebirth and "outer darkness" represents degradation. He cites Origen's controversial views on reincarnation as supporting evidence.

16. How to Be Rid of Matter:

    • Jainism advocates for the eradication of all desires and appetites to achieve complete separation from matter. This involves rigorous self-discipline and practices like fasting.
    • Christian teachings, particularly asceticism, renunciation, and the mortification of the flesh (interpreted allegorically), are presented as parallels to this process of ridding the soul of matter.

17. Deification as a Result of Right Action:

    • Jainism teaches that perfected Right Conduct leads to the soul's deification.
    • Christian texts are interpreted to show that by following Christ's example and striving for perfection, humans can become like God, achieving a state of deification.

18. Eternity of Liberation:

    • Jainism states that once liberation (Nirvana) is attained, it is eternal and irreversible because the soul is completely free from matter.
    • Christian scriptures are seen to support this by speaking of reigning "for ever and ever" and entering a state where defilement is impossible.

19. Not All Shall Be Saved:

    • Jainism posits that due to the malignant nature of some karmas and the soul's resistance to truth, not all souls will achieve liberation.
    • Christian teachings, like "many are called but few chosen" and the emphasis on a narrow path to life, are interpreted to convey a similar idea of selective salvation based on individual choice and adherence to the teachings.

20. Miscellaneous Correspondences:

    • The author draws numerous parallels, including:
      • Confession of sins.
      • Salvation being primarily for humanity.
      • The perceived inferiority of women in some early Christian texts, mirroring societal views and interpretations.
      • The pervasive misery of embodied life.
      • The wickedness of the world and its institutions.
      • The discouragement of certain trades for ardent followers.
      • The concept of tormentors in hell.
      • The opposition to animal sacrifice.
      • The symbolism of the "tree of life" and the "twelve angas" of Jainism, and the "tree of life" with twelve fruits in Revelation.

21. The Secret Sense and The Saviour Christ:

    • This section delves deeply into allegorical interpretations of biblical stories like Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and the Messiah.
    • The author argues that figures like Christ and the Tirthamkaras represent the ideal "Man-God" or the awakened soul, whose life serves as an example.
    • The "Saviour Christ" is seen not as a literal divine being in the human form, but as an "idea" or the awakened soul's divinity, personified as a Redeemer. The true salvation comes from within, through self-effort and adherence to the path shown by enlightened beings.
    • The book concludes by stressing that the true religion is a science, and its core message is about self-knowledge, self-belief, and self-manifestation, as taught by the Jinas.

Overall Message:

Champat Rai Jain's "Jainism, Christianity and Science" aims to demonstrate that Jainism offers a rational, scientific, and comprehensive framework for spiritual liberation that predates and underlies the true, albeit allegorically veiled, teachings of Christianity. He advocates for a return to the original, scientific understanding of these spiritual truths, free from dogma and misinterpretation, to achieve true progress and happiness for humanity.