Mein Jainismus, dein Jainismus? Unser Jainismus!

Abstract

The Jains in Switzerland increasingly organise religious meetings and celebrations. As a result, they constitute themselves as a distinct community that has undergone a process of community formation. Such a process always brings about a religious transformation, which becomes even more manifest if one considers the diaspora situation. This article focuses on the formation of a Jain community in Switzerland. By outlining results from an analysis of guided interviews with various Jain members, this article shall elucidate the ways in which a process of community formation manifests within the respondents on a qualitative basis. Moreover, it shall define the identity markers which the respondents refer to in the diaspora. Finally, this article will look at the actual religious transformations that are affected by this process. These questions are risen against the background of the fact that there are members of several Jain movements in Switzerland who would not perform common rituals in India together. Furthermore, it has to be borne in mind that there are no experts who are permanently present.