Introduction: Religious, Historical, and Social Contexts 1. Worldview, Karma, and Ethics 2. Why Jainism Survives: Jain Sects and Sub-sects Chapter 3. Exemplars for Monks: The Twenty-Four Re-Founders (Jinas) of Jainism Chapter 4. Exemplars for Nuns and Laywomen: Virtuous Women Chapter 5. Exemplars for Laymen: the Kings and Gods Chapter 6. Rituals, Festivals, and Devotional Worship Glossary Websites Bibliography Index
A clear and thorough account of Jainism, providing a guide to its important beliefs and practices.
Sherry Fohr is Associate Professor of Religion and Co-Director of Women’s Studies, Converse College, South Carolina, USA.
Jains have long learned the principles and history of Jainism
through narratives. Stories are at the heart of the sermons that
mendicants regularly deliver to laypeople. Mothers and
grand-mothers recount narratives to young Jains. In the home of
most Jains are one or more bookshelves full of volumes of edifying
tales. Sherry Fohr has followed this time-honored example, and
provided an accessible introduction to the Jain tradition through
narratives. The reader will encounter memorable characters and
memorable tales, and in the process come to see why Jainism has
been one of the world's enduring religious systems that has
provided insights to generations of seekers for three-thousand
years.
*John E. Cort, Professor of Asian and Comparative Religions &
Chair, Department of Religion, Denison University, USA*
Jainism is an ancient religious tradition whose central precept is
the necessity of practising non-violence towards all living
creatures. However, despite the obvious relevance of this noble and
compassionate perspective, Jainism is less well known in the modern
world than it deserves to be. In this fresh and stimulating
introduction Sherry Fohr conveys a wonderful sense of how Jainism
has evolved over the centuries as a distinctive religion and the
manner in which its teachings continue to shape and inspire the
lives of its adherents. Fohr is particularly successful in giving a
sense of the texture of the lives of Jain women and throughout the
book she skilfully integrates classic Jain narratives to highlight
her discussion. This is a book from which those interested in
Indian religions and members of the Jain community alike will gain
both profit and pleasure and it will undoubtedly ensure that in
future there will be much less perplexity about Jainism.
*Paul Dundas, Reader in Sanskrit, School of Literatures, Languages
and Cultures, University of Edinburgh, UK*
An enticing book, which teaches Jainism the way it is learnt by
those who follow it—through stories
*Arvind Sharma, Birks Professor of Comparative Religion, McGill
University, Canada*
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