Christianity & Jainism
Liberation: Moksha, or Life with God
The goal of the Jain path is moksha: the soul's complete release from every trace of karma, rising to the summit of the universe in a state of perfect, omniscient, unending bliss (kevala). It is glorious, and it is solitary and self-achieved: the freed soul dwells in its own perfection, not in the presence of a God, for in Jain teaching there is no Creator to receive it. Christianity also hopes for a final freedom from all that binds and defiles us, but describes it as communion: not the soul alone in its own perfection, but the person welcomed home into the presence and love of a personal God. Liberation into solitary perfection, or salvation into the love of God, is the difference at the heart of the two hopes.
What Jainism teaches
Liberation is the release of the soul from all karmic bondage; the path to it is the three jewels held together:
The liberated soul (siddha) attains kevala, omniscience and infinite bliss, and rises to the summit of the cosmos, free forever from rebirth. It is a perfection reached by the soul's own long effort across lives, and enjoyed in solitary completeness, not in the company of a God.
What Christians believe
Christianity hopes for freedom from all sin and sorrow too, but names it as being with God, seeing him, and dwelling in his love.
Where they meet
Both long for a final freedom from all that binds, defiles, and causes suffering, both believe the deepest human destiny is not the grave, and both hold that the way there passes through a real purifying of the heart and life.
Where they differ
Jain moksha is the soul's solitary rise into omniscient, self-contained bliss, achieved by its own effort over many lives, with no God to receive it. Christian salvation is communion: the person, freed and made new, welcomed face to face into the presence and love of a personal God, as a gift. Liberation into solitary perfection, or salvation into the love of God, is the difference we hold honestly.
Jain sources: the Tattvartha Sutra (Umasvati) and the Acaranga Sutra (Hermann Jacobi, 1884, public domain, Sacred Books of the East vol. 22); renderings vary, compare others. Bible: King James Version. Every reference on this page was checked against its source.
The word itself
Moksha (moksha) → release → liberation
In Jainism moksha is the soul's complete release from karma into kevala, omniscient and infinite bliss, rising to the summit of the universe in solitary perfection, achieved by the soul's own effort. Christianity hopes for a final freedom too, but as communion with a personal God, seen face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12) and received as a gift.
Frequently asked questions
- What is moksha in Jainism?
- Moksha is liberation: the soul's complete release from all karma, rising to the summit of the universe in a state of omniscient, unending bliss (kevala), free forever from rebirth. It is achieved by the soul's own effort through the three jewels of right faith, knowledge, and conduct (Tattvartha Sutra 1.1), and enjoyed in solitary perfection.
- How is Christian salvation different?
- Christians hope for freedom from all sin and sorrow, but describe it as communion with a personal God, welcomed face to face into his presence and love (Revelation 21:4; 1 Corinthians 13:12), and received as a gift rather than achieved alone. Liberation into solitary perfection, or salvation into the love of God, is the difference.
Come and see
Jainism calls you to harm no living thing and to free the soul by your own effort; the Gospel tells of a God who came to bear your burden and to give what could not be earned. The most direct way to know Jesus is to read his words for yourself. There is no pressure here.
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