What religion is Jain's?

Answer 1

In its own right, Jain's have become their own religion. Stemming from Hinduism, Jain's have their own core beliefs and practices, and are thus, different from mainstream Hinduism. Most adherents are concentrated in India.

Answer 2

To some westerners the Jains are known for the fact that they do not eat root vegetables (potatoes, onions, turnips) or foods which contain potential living cultures such as cheese and yoghurt. In both cases to avoid killing living things.

This is like describing Christians as followers of a man who served his guests the fixings for fish Sandwiches.

In reality Jains are an ancient Indian religion based on non violence. Their basic beliefs include:

• The universal presence of a soul in living beings
• The ultimateopportunity of equality for all souls
• Respect for all life
• The reliazation that each soul is responsible for its own fate
• The absense of a deity which created and maintains the Universe
• Non-violence is essential to improvement of ones codition in the eternal scheme of things
• Constrolling the needs of the body is essental to learning, Simplicity in lifestyle is a correct approach

Historically Jainism is thought to have arisen as early as the 9th century BCE, possibly from earlier religions existing in India before the Indo-Aryan influx.