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Jainism

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Religion

The Resume

    Born in India
    Ancient religion of India
    Stresses non-violence, the rejection of materialism, common morality, and spiritual progress towards divinity
    Teaches that through following their precepts, a person can overcome the cycle of death and reincarnation to achieve godhood
    Teaches that the universe is without beginning or end going through various cycles
    Worldwide population is estimated at between 10 and 12 million

Why they might be annoying:

    They take pacifism and vegetarianism to a whole new level; sweeping the ground in front of them to avoid stepping on insects, not eating root plants like onions and potatoes because picking them kills the plant among other things.
    However, they believe suicide is okay as long as it is done in a non-violent fashion, i.e., starving or drowning yourself, and if you have been a practicing Jainist for at least seven years.
    They are divided into two major sects over the question of whether women can achieve godhood, or, if they have to come back as men first.
    They have some really strange symbols associated with their religion.
    Some of their monks go naked, rejecting wearing clothes as materialism.
    They are sometimes confused with Buddhists and/or Hindus and in India are to a certain extent legally considered Buddhists or Hindus even though their religion far predates either of them.

Why they might not be annoying:

    No TV evangelists, no stoning adulteresses, burning witches at the stake, etc. and have never started a war with anyone.
    Except for Judaism, they are probably the world's oldest religion dating back to at least 2000 BC.
    They stress honesty, morality, self-control, and believe all people are equal.
    They have made incalculable positive contributions to India, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
    Many of Gandhi's teachers growing up were Jainists and he learned the principle of nonviolence from them.
    They are among India's most literate people (literacy rate of virtually 100%), have made innumerable contributions to learning in India, and established its oldest libraries.

Credit: tom_jeffords


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 19 Votes: 89.47% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 26 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 21 Votes: 47.62% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 28 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 20 Votes: 65.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 17 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 61 Votes: 63.93% Annoying