Answer

In Jainism, it is not fully correct to simply agree with the statement, “Jainism does not have God,” without clarification.

A more accurate answer is:

Jainism does not believe in a creator, controller, or punishing God. But Jainism does revere God in the form of liberated souls — Arihants and Siddhas — who have destroyed karma and attained perfect knowledge, purity, and liberation.

Explanation

If someone’s idea of God is:

• a creator of the universe,
• a ruler who controls everyone’s life,
• a punisher or reward-giver,
• someone separate from the soul who decides our fate,

then Jainism does not accept that kind of God.

In Jain Dharma:

• The universe is beginningless and not created by anyone.
• Every soul is responsible for its own karma.
• Suffering and happiness arise due to one’s own karmas, not because God is punishing or rewarding.
• Liberated souls do not interfere in worldly affairs.

But Jainism definitely has the concept of the divine.

Jains worship:

• Arihants — perfected beings who have conquered inner enemies like anger, ego, deceit, and greed.
• Siddhas — liberated souls who are free from all karma and have attained moksha.
• Tirthankars — Arihants who establish the fourfold Jain Sangh and show the path to liberation.

So if someone says, “Jainism has no God,” it depends on what they mean by “God.”

Spiritual Understanding

Jainism teaches that God is not a punisher. God is the perfected state of the soul.

Arihants and Siddhas do not punish us, reward us, or control us. They are worshipped because they represent the highest spiritual purity and show us what our own soul can become.

This is a very important Jain understanding:

God is not someone who controls the soul. God is what the soul becomes when it is completely free from karma.

Takeaway

So, simply nodding when someone says “Jainism does not have God” may create misunderstanding.

A better response would be:

“Jainism does not believe in a creator or punishing God, but it does believe in and worship perfected liberated souls such as Arihants and Siddhas.”