While both believe strongly in non-violence, Jains are a little more extreme in their views. Christians look at non-violence as taking innocent human lives and they have the belief that God provided animals as a source of food. Jains believe that life should not be taken in any form. The doctrine of ahisma, one of the three principles for self-perfection, relates to every single organism in the world. It even relates to the microorganisms that are in water and in the air that we breathe (McDowell). Jains believe that everything deserves to live. Jains are strict vegetarians and treat everything with great care (Fisher). Jains believe that a living being is injured if you were to kick a rock while you were walking. Jains are particular about the jobs they work in and also the clothing that they wear because they believe these too can injure life (Fisher). The affects that these beliefs have on the people within the religion varies. When we look at the differences between Christianity and Jainism when we reference perfection, Jains are required through personal sacrifices to achieve that perfection solely on their own, so this puts more responsibility on the individual person. Within the Christian religion, they can never reach that ultimate level of perfection that would put them on the same level as a “god”, so their goal is to try to be like Jesus because they know they will never “be”
While both believe strongly in non-violence, Jains are a little more extreme in their views. Christians look at non-violence as taking innocent human lives and they have the belief that God provided animals as a source of food. Jains believe that life should not be taken in any form. The doctrine of ahisma, one of the three principles for self-perfection, relates to every single organism in the world. It even relates to the microorganisms that are in water and in the air that we breathe (McDowell). Jains believe that everything deserves to live. Jains are strict vegetarians and treat everything with great care (Fisher). Jains believe that a living being is injured if you were to kick a rock while you were walking. Jains are particular about the jobs they work in and also the clothing that they wear because they believe these too can injure life (Fisher). The affects that these beliefs have on the people within the religion varies. When we look at the differences between Christianity and Jainism when we reference perfection, Jains are required through personal sacrifices to achieve that perfection solely on their own, so this puts more responsibility on the individual person. Within the Christian religion, they can never reach that ultimate level of perfection that would put them on the same level as a “god”, so their goal is to try to be like Jesus because they know they will never “be”