In Jainism, the answer depends on what you mean by “God.”

1. No creator God

Jains do not believe in a single all‑powerful creator God who made and controls the universe. - The universe is beginningless and endless. - Everything runs by its own natural laws and by each soul’s own karma, not by God’s will.

1. Yes to perfect, divine souls

Jains do believe in and worship: - Arihant / Tirthankar – living enlightened beings who have destroyed all inner enemies (anger, pride, deceit, greed) and attained perfect knowledge. - Siddha – fully liberated souls who are forever free from birth and death.

These are sometimes loosely called “God” in English, but: - They do not create or run the world. - They only know and see everything, in perfect peace. - We worship them as ideals and guides, not as controllers of our fate.

1. Devas (gods) also exist, but…

Jain scriptures also mention many devas/devis (heavenly beings). - They are powerful, but they are still in the cycle of birth and death, bound by karma. - They are not creators and cannot give liberation (moksha).

1. What is “God” for a Jain?

In simple words: - For a Jain, “God” = the perfect soul (Arihant and Siddha), - not a creator or judge, - but a pure, liberated being whose qualities we try to follow.

So:

• Do Jains believe in a creator God? – No.
• Do Jains believe in and worship divine, perfect beings? – Yes: Arihants, Siddhas, and the other Panch Parmeshthi, as ideals of what we can become through our own effort.