[Harsha Shah]

Yes! How are you doing, Landover Baptists? I am doing fine!

My name is Harsha Shah, I am 23 years of age and I am finishing my studies and becoming a school teacher for primary school. I live in the UK but I am of Indian descent. It is sad that I do not really know the language of my grandparents. My family, we are of the Jain religion, Jainism. I have been doing the programme in religious and moral education and so I have been also reading a lot of texts about Christianity.

I am a laywoman Jain. I am practicing ahimsa, I try not to kill animals,and I try to not to lie, not to possess too much, I am trying to be chaste and to study the world with anekantavada. Yes! That is, we feel that the teachings of Jainism are one form of the truth and there can be other truths also. I am wishing to get to know the truth of Christianity here. I feel that the truth of Jainism is touching the truth of Christians at many places. Our non-violence of ahimsa is very similar to Jesus. I have read the King James Bible, it is blessed and beautiful English, and there I have been discovering many things similar to Jain teachings. Jesus is saying in Matthew 5:39 not to resist evil. He is saying in Matthew 5:22 not to be angry. That is ahimsa, being angry is violence, violence always hurts you. I can also see that the truth of the Bible is a complex truth, a dualist truth. You have a god that is often angry and fearsome but also beautiful and blessed. Yes.

My favorite passage of the Bible is the Ecclesiastes Chapter 3. Yes, it is truly blessed and beautiful. It shows the beautiful things and the things we are disliking. It is also very oriental. It is almost Buddhist, it is like Jainism. It is our common ground. When you go far enough in war you find peace, far enough in life you find death. Sad and beautiful.

I wish to become friends with you. I am here wishing to learn your truths. I will be teaching many children of many truths, many religious, yes! I am hoping I will be be a better educator knowing you.

[Witch Hammer]

Originally Posted by Harsha Shah

I will be teaching many children of many truths, many religious, yes! I am hoping I will be be a better educator knowing you.

There is only one Truth™, slut, and His name is Jesus. Have fun thrashing around in hellfire along with all the misguided children you'll be dragging down with you.

[Marko Loimaan-Aho]

Originally Posted by Harsha Shah

I am a laywoman Jain. I am practicing ahimsa,

I do not want to hear anymore. This is a family friendly forum!!!

[Harsha Shah]

Originally Posted by Witch Hammer

There is only one Truth™, slut, and His name is Jesus. Have fun thrashing around in hellfire along with all the misguided children you'll be dragging down with you.

Originally Posted by Marko Loimaan-Aho

I do not want to hear anymore. This is a family friendly forum!!!

Yes, thank you so much for replying to my post. I do not wish to offend, I am sorry if you feel you are intimidated by me.

Mr. Hammer, thank you for your answer. You must be right, it is the truth that I am going to Christian Hell, and it is truth that I have been accumulating bad karma during my life. I am not following my religion very well but I am trying to be a better person all the time. Mr. Loiman-Aho, yes, I am sorry I have used the Sanskrit language word of ahimsa. It is simply non-violence in English. I have been reading a lot about non-violence in the Bible. I have found it in many places, such as the gospel of Luke, Chapter 3, in the words of John. I hope that it can be one true way that we both can understand.

Thank you, you blessed, beautiful people for taking your time to answer me!

[Attila's Wife]

Hello dear and welcome to our friendly forums. I fear that as a Godless Jane you are already condemned to the Lake of Fire, but perhaps there is still time for you to repent.

You say you are of Indian descent but brought up in the UK. There is something about your style of writing that interests me. Let me quote some examples...

Originally Posted by Harsha Shah

I am practicing ahimsa,

I am wishing to get to know the truth of Christianity here.

I feel that the truth of Jainism is touching the truth of Christians at many places.

.... the things we are disliking.

Oh my goodness, the only time I am hearing the language used like this is when I am speaking to someone in a call center in Bombay, or whatever name you are calling that place these days. Tell us, are all your people speaking like this? Is it hereditary?

YiC
AW

[Harsha Shah]

Originally Posted by Attila's Wife

Hello dear and welcome to our friendly forums. I fear that as a Godless Jane you are already condemned to the Lake of Fire, but perhaps there is still time for you to repent.

You say you are of Indian descent but brought up in the UK. There is something about your style of writing that interests me. Let me quote some examples...



Oh my goodness, the only time I am hearing the language used like this is when I am speaking to someone in a call center in Bombay, or whatever name you are calling that place these days. Tell us, are all your people speaking like this? Is it hereditary?

YiC
AW

Yes! Oh my goodness... Goodness gracious me... Thank you for the very kind welcome, Mrs. Attila! Yes, I am speaking in this manner when I am at home. You must mean the progressive verb forms. My parents are using them a lot, really, and I was thinking, perhaps here in this Forum, I would do my writing in a more causal manner. Like among friends that I hope we will become. If it is disturbing, I will try to be more correct as I did when I was doing my writing during my studies (I am doing it all the time, aren't I?).

Yes, it is possible that I go into your hell. But perhaps, everybody is being judged according to her own truths. The Christians are judged by their book and we according to our conduct and truthfulness? Perhaps? And yes, at the moment I can say I am godless. It is true. We have no god, we think that the universe has always been and it will always be. Perhaps, here is the answer why we like the progressive forms so much. With them the words are floating nicely in the eternal universe, don't you think?

[Mistress Cookie]

Originally Posted by Harsha Shah

Thank you, you blessed, beautiful people for taking your time to answer me!

Well, I must say I find your tone to be quite cordial and respectful, and that is a nice change of pace. Though we Save© many souls© for Jesus™ here, along the way we get much persecution in the form of the very vilest language being hurled at us, willy-nilly.

I hope to welcome you to God™s Garden soon.

[Marko Loimaan-Aho]

Originally Posted by Harsha Shah

Yes, it is possible that I go into your hell. But perhaps, everybody is being judged according to her own truths. The Christians are judged by their book and we according to our conduct and truthfulness? Perhaps? And yes, at the moment I can say I am godless. It is true.

No, it is clear that you go to
There is no "own truths" - neither to You or me or anyone else. There is one truth and that is THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!!! And his WORD in the BIBLE

You have to let JESUS come inside you, before you can know the way and the truth!!!

John 14:6

Repent - or burn in where Devil presents You his own "Kama Sutra"

[Harsha Shah]

Originally Posted by Mistress Cookie

Well, I must say I find your tone to be quite cordial and respectful, and that is a nice change of pace. Though we Save© many souls© for Jesus™ here, along the way we get much persecution in the form of the very vilest language being hurled at us, willy-nilly.

I hope to welcome you to God™s Garden soon.

Yes, Mrs. Cookie. You are very kind.

Yes, anger is one of the passions we should be avoiding. It is part of the non-violence, yes, it is! It is written in one of our Jain texts "that which is good for him, he should get rid of the four faults—anger, pride, deceit and greed—which increase the evil". It is in the Dasavaikalika sutra. It is also in your Bible, isn't it? yes, it is also Jesus's word. "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth". Yes, it is in Colossian epistle Chapter 3.These are so similar, same truths. Is it not beautiful?

[Harsha Shah]

Originally Posted by Marko Loimaan-Aho

No, it is clear that you go to
There is no "own truths" - neither to You or me or anyone else. There is one truth and that is THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!!! And his WORD in the BIBLE

You have to let JESUS come inside you, before you can know the way and the truth!!!

John 14:6

Repent - or burn in where Devil presents You his own "Kama Sutra"

Yes, Mr. Loiman-Aho, thank you for your reply. I of course know of the Kama Sutra but it is perhaps not the book for your Christians and it is definitely not for us Jains. We feel that overindulgence in the passion of sex is one of the things that damage your soul. Sex is for those who are married, is it not the same for you? Yes, it must be!

I am hoping I do not offend you, I try not to. I accept that in your world I will be burning in Hell. I do not know how it will be in my world. But many things in our religions are the same, yes they are! The anger, the sex without marriage, the damage it is causing to your soul. I am glad that you people are discussing all this here with me. I can get new perspective to the world as through the Jain religion I am seeing only little.

[Faith_Machine]

I understand one of the great tirtankaras of your religion committed suicide by walking into the ocean. Do you really think that's a good example he was setting for people? Don't you think maybe somebody who was so incapable of handling life that he had to kill himself might have been unqualified to teach other people how to live?

[Marko Loimaan-Aho]

Originally Posted by Harsha Shah

I accept that in your world I will be burning in Hell. I do not know how it will be in my world.

Sorry to say, woman, but the world is the same for all. And there is ONE LORD, GOD ALMIGHTY WHO RULES!!!
He has created ALL!

Genesis 1:1-5

And there is one LIGHT - JESUS CHRIST!!!

John 8:12

If you do not accept Jesus inside you, you have no hope!

Revelation 22:17
John 5:40

[Harsha Shah]

Originally Posted by Faith_Machine

I understand one of the great tirtankaras of your religion committed suicide by walking into the ocean. Do you really think that's a good example he was setting for people? Don't you think maybe somebody who was so incapable of handling life that he had to kill himself might have been unqualified to teach other people how to live?

Yes, Mr. Faith Machine. I am so happy that you are knowledgeable about my religion! And your avatar is very beautiful. It must reflect a beautiful soul, I am certain! I am honoured to know you!

As I have been saying, I am not necessarily a very good example of Jainism. I follow the non-violence, the food regulations, I am chaste and I am fasting several times a year. We are following the tirthankaras not as infallible sages but as examples of well-lived lives. Their example can help us to achieve liberation. A good life may end at the volition of the person. This is santhara, fasting until death. I know this is not considered good in Christianity. For us, in santhara, a person is ready to pass on and is fasting for preparation of death. Yes. Sad and beautiful. Life so well lived that a person can move on without fear, knowing that a full life is ending. And fasting is not unknown to you, is it! In the book of Jonah, fasting is cleansing the sin of an evil city, is it not?

[Harsha Shah]

Originally Posted by Marko Loimaan-Aho

Sorry to say, woman, but the world is the same for all. And there is ONE LORD, GOD ALMIGHTY WHO RULES!!!
He has created ALL!

Genesis 1:1-5

And there is one LIGHT - JESUS CHRIST!!!

John 8:12

If you do not accept Jesus inside you, you have no hope!

Revelation 22:17
John 5:40

Yes, Mr. Loiman-Aho. Thank you for replying me! It can be that I have no hope. Yes, it must be so. It is truly that we are striving for that state. It is a state of peace. It is like the Ecclesiastes. No hope, no fear, no need, no passion. Just life in its gentle form. I am thinking, is this what Jesus also achieved, liberation, enlightenment? Yes, it must be! I am thankful that you are sharing you thoughts with me. But I am young, not wise. I have much to learn. Perhaps I should learn fear, fear of Hell? I have not known it. I fear a bad life, of causing violence, of causing evil with good intentions.

[Marko Loimaan-Aho]

Originally Posted by Harsha Shah

I am thankful that you are sharing you thoughts with me. But I am young, not wise. I have much to learn. Perhaps I should learn fear, fear of Hell?

I am not sharing my thoughts, poor thing. I am sharing Gods Word

You should not fear Hell. Fear God.

Luke 12:5

Because you are a woman, you are doomed already according to your own superstition

[Faith_Machine]

Yes my dear, I make it my business to be an expert on all faiths, that I might better witness to non-Christians and gently guide them safely into our flock.

Now then, I am most curious about the Jain belief that Karma is a physical substance, capable of entering the human body through the eyes or breath. Surely scientists have been able to verify the existence of this substance, yes?

If you could post some links to the peer-reviewed scientific studies dealing with this substance, I would be most fascinated to read them!

Regarding another thing, I don't want to offend you or anything, but I have to say I'm a little concerned about the symbol for Jainism. Buddhists and Hindus also use swastikas, so a swastika by itself might not be too disturbing, but you all have also got a right hand underneath the swastika, giving the classic Nazi salute.



I kind of feel like this might be in bad taste.

Tell me, have the Simon Wiesenthal Center or the Rainbow Coalition hit you up for money yet? They usually will if you give them this kind of excuse.

[Mistress Cookie]

Originally Posted by Harsha Shah

I am not necessarily a very good example of Jainism...

Is there another word you could use for that? It reminds me of Jihad...

Awkward.

[Didymus Much]

Originally Posted by Mistress Cookie

...

You! Put down the Photoshop and step away.

[Basilissa]

Originally Posted by Didymus Much

You! Put down the Photoshop and step away.

You, atheist! Please stop being mean to my friend, who is the sweetest and kindest lady in the world!

[Harsha Shah]

Yes! Thank you all for your replies. Especially I am happy to continue discussing with Mr. Faith Machine.

Originally Posted by Faith_Machine

Yes my dear, I make it my business to be an expert on all faiths, that I might better witness to non-Christians and gently guide them safely into our flock.

Now then, I am most curious about the Jain belief that Karma is a physical substance, capable of entering the human body through the eyes or breath. Surely scientists have been able to verify the existence of this substance, yes?

If you could post some links to the peer-reviewed scientific studies dealing with this substance, I would be most fascinated to read them!

Regarding another thing, I don't want to offend you or anything, but I have to say I'm a little concerned about the symbol for Jainism. Buddhists and Hindus also use swastikas, so a swastika by itself might not be too disturbing, but you all have also got a right hand underneath the swastika, giving the classic Nazi salute.



I kind of feel like this might be in bad taste.

Tell me, have the Simon Wiesenthal Center or the Rainbow Coalition hit you up for money yet? They usually will if you give them this kind of excuse.

Mr. Machine, please be not offended by my answers. The Jain people I know, we are fully aware that the things we revere are only our vision of the truth. It is like the famous story of the elephant and the blind men. Everybody is groping a different part of the elephant and getting a true vision of the animal but still they are understanding only a part. I like to think that Jainism sees into the eye of the elephant and understands that there is a soul there. Sometimes when I am reading the texts of this forum I think some Christians are grapping only the lingam, eh? I personally like to think of religions as roadmaps. They tell you advice but the road is another thing and you are still navigating by yourself.

Yes, I think we can accummulate karma, bad things for the soul. I can see that Christians are not seeing it as real. I myself am not thinking that it is material or that it is real in the sense that you can go on measuring it. It is not science. Karma is dealing with how we are living our lives. Yes! It is the same with symbols. I am not going around with a swastika. I am thinking that the association with it is unfortunate but it is a symbol, it is not my religion. And I am very secular, yes? I can remain in Jainism without the symbols.

Yes, thank you everbody for your interest. You are giving me a lot to think about and the pictures are blessed and beautiful.