SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The Encyclopedia entry highlights the recent transformation of Jainism from an universalist ideology (idea-logy) of world-renunciation into an ideology for world-transformation. These widespread changes in the Jaina tradition are not unprecedented. They echo the global movement of 'religious modernism', a nineteenth century theological response to the ideas of the European enlightenment, which westernised elites in South Asia embraced as well under the influence of colonialism, global industrial capitalism and modern science and technology. In the discourse of 'Jain modernism', 'Jainism' is framed not only as a 'religion', in the sense of the new Religionswissenschaft, but as a 'world religion', both by academics, colonial administrators and by western educated Jain community leaders, promoting the reformist agenda that now dominates Jain culture, especially in the global Jain Diaspora. Key aspects of these new developments are reviewed under six headings: (1) Early history, (2) Colonialism & revivalism, (3) Migration & world wide mission, (4) Innovative religious ideas and practices, (5) Social and political activism, (6) Global organizations.