Why not popular?

[religion99]

Why Jainism is not popular even if it seems to be a decent religion compared to other more popular religions?

Thanks

 

[Phil25]

What do you mean popularity of religion? Is it the number of followers of a particular religion that determines how popular it is?

 

[religion99]

What do you mean popularity of religion? Is it the number of followers of a particular religion that determines how popular it is?

Precisely.

 

[xkatz]

Why Jainism is not popular even if it seems to be a decent religion compared to other more popular religions?

Thanks

Because Jainism is an extremely difficult religion to practice. Absolute ahimsa, meaning a very strict vegan diet, no killing any life forms (eg hunting, pest extermination) would seem counter productive in many cultures and creates certain challenges.

Also, outside of India and to a lesser extent the Indian diaspora, there is a serious lack of practitioners or community.

 

[religion99]

Just want to get an outside perspective.

 

[religion99]

Because Jainism is an extremely difficult to practice. Absolute ahmisma, meaning a very strict vegan diet, no killing any life forms (eg hunting, pest extermination) would seem counter productive in many cultures and creates certain challenges.

Also, outside of India and to a lesser extent the Indian diaspora, there is a serious lack of practitioners or community.

True. Community and "Difficulty to practice" is the chicken-egg problem.

 

[xkatz]

Also in some ways, Jain Dharma is overshadowed by Sanatana Dharma and Buddha Dharma.

 

[outhouse]

Why Jainism is not popular even if it seems to be a decent religion compared to other more popular religions?

Thanks

Because most religions are tied to geographic locations.

Born in the USA the odds are possible your christian.

Born in Iraq you may be a muslim.

 

[religion99]

Also in some ways, Jain Dharma is overshadowed by Santana Dharma and Buddha Dharma.

Probably , we were prosecuted so severely in the past that scars of it tells us to keep our religion to ourselves rather than market it.

 

[religion99]

Also in some ways, Jain Dharma is overshadowed by Sanatana Dharma and Buddha Dharma.

Although at one point in time we were in "neck and neck" contest with them, we eventually lost out spectacularly.

 

[columbus]

Just want to get an outside perspective.

Honestly, I don't know much about Jainism except the prohibition on killing part.

That strikes me as more than just unrealistic. It seems wrong to me. We are all part of an interdependent web of life. That web includes death. Trying to take yourself out of that web is is a kind of hubris.

And until we humans manage to stop killing each other I just can't care about mice or chickens.

Tom

 

[ChristineES]

Why Jainism is not popular even if it seems to be a decent religion compared to other more popular religions?

Thanks

I would suppose a lot of people don't know about it. I didn't know it existed until I joined this forum.

 

[religion99]

Honestly, I don't know much about Jainism except the prohibition on killing part.

That strikes me as more than just unrealistic. It seems wrong to me. We are all part of an interdependent web of life. That web includes death. Trying to take yourself out of that web is is a kind of hubris.

And until we humans manage to stop killing each other I just can't care about mice or chickens.

Tom

Those who believed otherwise in Europe have already been eliminated.

The Cathars: Cathar Beliefs: Roman Catholic Propaganda: Vegetarianism

 

[fantome profane]

When is the last time you went door to door handing out Jain pamphlets?

 

[religion99]

When is the last time you went door to door handing out Jain pamphlets?

Never. I am too shy and afraid to do that , but will try that. Which one you think can be the best target location for getting maximum throughput?

 

[columbus]

The Cathars:**Cathar Beliefs:**Roman Catholic Propaganda:**Vegetarianism.
This is one charge that is undeniable. *

Cathars, or at least Parfaits and trainee Parfaits, refused to eat animal products - not only meat but also milk, cheese and eggs - anything that resulted from coition. Some at least refused to eat honey, apparently on the grounds that it, like the morning dew, was the product of monthly copulation between the sun and the moon !

In many respects Cathar parfaits resembled modern day vegans, except that they did eat fish. * (The justification was that fish, as they believed, did not reproduce sexually and so could not imprison a soul as other animals could). *That fish reproduced asexually was a genuine and widespread belief in the Middle Ages. *

Those who believed otherwise in Europe have already been eliminated.

The Cathars: Cathar Beliefs: Roman Catholic Propaganda: Vegetarianism

There is just no end to the strange things religionists believe. Especially back in prescientific days.

Tom

 

[Sees]

Never. I am too shy and afraid to do that , but will try that. Which one you think can be the best target location for getting maximum throughput?

Please don't... There are better ways

Think long and hard before deciding more fellow travelers on your own path is always a good thing. Most traditions have a fair share of people who do not "make it shine"

Add this to the fact that our religious traditions are constantly evolving and how all the various people will influence its nature and character years from now. For me personally, I'll gladly give out some info for curious people but very, very rarely encourage.

Judaism is a good example of this for the big dog major religions.

 

[religion99]

Please don't... There are better ways

Think long and hard before deciding more fellow travelers on your own path is always a good thing. Most traditions have a fair share of people who do not "make it shine"

Add this to the fact that our religious traditions are constantly evolving and how all the various people will influence its nature and character years from now. For me personally, I'll gladly give out some info for curious people but very, very rarely encourage.

Judaism is a good example of this for the big dog major religions.

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep that in my mind.

One more question as it seems you have quite a bit of experience in this area.

How to target "Rich and Famous" and is it worth to target them?

 

[Sees]

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep that in my mind.

One more question as it seems you have quite a bit of experience in this area.

How to target "Rich and Famous" and is it worth to target them?

Whoever is involved in the social circles of your life you can show a great example of your path and satisfy curious questions...that is the best way in my opinion. Rich and famous if it's in your circles and sphere of influence. Rich and famous might not be ideal as you could encourage an artificial shell of what it truly is. A ************** fad if you will.

In Bruce Lee terms "the art of proselytizing without proselytizing" is my opinion the best. I end up talking to people about me being Ásatrú/Heathen very often without effort - just being an interesting and good person.

 

[religion99]

Whoever is involved in the social circles of your life you can show a great example of your path and satisfy curious questions...that is the best way in my opinion. Rich and famous if it's in your circles and sphere of influence. Rich and famous might not be ideal as you could encourage an artificial shell of what it truly is. A ************** fad if you will.

In Bruce Lee terms "the art of proselytizing without proselytizing" is my opinion the best. I end up talking to people about me being Ásatrú/Heathen very often without effort - just being an interesting and good person.

Thanks