So what are you? A Buddhist, a Christian, a Catholic, a Muslim or someone that “belongs” to another religion? Or are you an Atheist? What made you become the person you are today, atheist or otherwise?
Will you be willing to defend your beliefs through the rest of this post?
I’ve been having lengthy arguments with one of my good Muslim friends about this whole idea of the existence of god. But this post is not about that. The argument on the existence of god is something which I would happily deviate from for I have no divine knowledge to be able to answer that. But as many would say, “It’s a matter of belief”, and I’d like to stick with it.
So the matter at hand is: What’s wrong being an atheist?
My parents are Buddhists. (I don’t know how to define a Buddhist, but if the definition dictates that a Buddhist is someone who follows the teachings of Lord Buddha, then yes, they are Buddhists). So does that make me a Buddhist? To a certain extent, yes, I guess. I’ve been brought up in a Buddhist environment, been taken to the temple very often when I was a child and been witnessing the Buddhist influence in most of the life’s big occasions. However, as I aged to my early twenties, I have gradually given up the regular visits to the temple and have gradually become distant from the normal religious activities a person who claims to be a Buddhist would do, although, I would still admit that the teachings in Buddhism appear to me as the logically most sound set of principles a human can adopt. So, in short, I’ve become a person who doesn’t belong to any religion. Does that make me an atheist?
Well, I have been an atheist from the beginning, haven’t I? Even if I say I followed Buddhism from childhood, that very fact would make me an atheist, since Buddhism is considered a non-theistic religion. So guess it’s fair to say that I have become a complete atheist after all.
So what was the issue here?
To my amazement, my good Muslim friend seemed unable even to bear the existence of atheists on this planet. For him, it seemed that atheists were a group of people who roam on this planet without an aim, like sheep without the Shepard. Constantly inquiring whether I’m not concerned about where I might land up after passing away from this world, he tried his best to convince me that I’m a fool not to believe in god. So, I asked, “Why should we be concerned”?. I don’t have the faintest idea of what’s going to happen to me when I pass away from this world nor have I ever met a person who’s been dead. So why should I be worried? Isn’t it perfectly logical that I wish to live my life to the best I could while I can and leave the things I can’t comprehend as they are. I ask, what’s so hard to see reason in this simple statement. As far as he was concerned, it was a statement they could not even remotely consider.
Does being an atheist or not following a religion make you a monster? Not at all.
The guide to a peaceful life lies within our very own realm of reasoning. I know that it hurts me if someone tries to kill me, so it’s pure logic if I attempt to refrain from killing animals. I do not necessarily need to follow the first precept of Buddhism to adopt that principle to my life. As far as I’m concerned, it’s perfectly logical for me to do the best for the world I live in so that by the time I die, I can look back and feel entirely happy of the way I’ve spent my life. That’s the religion I define.
Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people." – Karl Marx
Is it not better off believing what we see, what we touch or something that we can deduce from logic than believing the holy word of an invisible god? What amazes me most is that by believing the holy word, it’s so easy to justify anything that would otherwise seem unjust to the logical mind.
"The beauty of religious mania is that it has the power to explain everything. Once God (or Satan) is accepted as the first cause of everything which happens in the mortal world, nothing is left to chance...logic can be happily tossed out the window."- Stephen King
Is it just me or do we hear wars been raged in the names of religions than there are good deeds done in their names? To me, religions are mostly (or at least the people have turned them into) means of dividing the human society to factions that ultimately try to promote their own interests, overpowering the rest.
I wouldn’t want to start an argument on the beliefs of people who believe in god. Their faith is theirs. It’s just the way they look at people who don’t believe in their god that concerns me.
Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Faith means not wanting to know what is true”. So I’ll leave it at that without stressing the genius of the person himself.
For those atheists out there, here’s a cool link to check out.
15 Comments:
Machan / Machandi :D
It's like you spoke my mind. I've found my twin XD
I enjoyed it a lot
i enjoyed your post. and great link with the quotes lol.
Good post.
Most of the people misunderstand spirituality as religion or vice-versa. I don’t want to blame them for it. I myself have been brutally forced by the government, to attend religious activities for 12 straight years, since I was tender 5 years old, morning and afternoon, every week day, and punished numerous times for not doing so. I was threaten to burn in dry heat, slowly, forever, while inserting numerous shape objects in my behind, after I die, if I do not surrender. Which even North Koreans may also find pretty brutal.
This whole surrender game makes people in to cage birds. They cannot live without dominant figure, cannot think anything outside the cage. Not only that, they even go up to do most barbaric activities such as child body part mutilations, or mass killing.
There are nothing wrong in been an Atheist. Atheists such as later stage mother Theresa, or Buddha may not surrender to any one, such as God, Hitler or Kim Jong Il, but I believe they may have strong spiritual life and terribly good people.
By the way, Karl Marx is not an Atheist. He is a founder of another religion that demands complete surrender and he brought up new Opium for the people.
Thanx everyone,
u know, a funny argument came up y'day when i was fighting with my muslim friend. When asked about why men are allowed to marry upto four women and why women are not allowed that luxury(or whatever) he brought up an argument about the women population being higher than that of men. It's like they are rationalizing their obvious inequality in treating women by coming up with such stupid arguments. I mean, come on. What's that all about?
Good comment by Sam,each to his own I say.
Being irrelegious is not very socially acceptable here so I simply say something non-commital or the name of my former religion if someone asks. Easier that way.
I honestly don't understand how theists can say the things they say without a straight face.
Hey Niro,
Muslim friend here...
In your post u said [Is it not better off believing what we see, what we touch or something that we can deduce from logic than believing the holy word of an invisible god?] right??
I found a video which scientifically proves the existence of GOD. U should watch it.. Its better than i trying to explain it to u here or in our chats.
[How to prove Scientifically to an atheist -Existence of God] - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHXWC5XLlcY
and regarding Polygamy the Quran says "Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one." [Al-Qur’an 4:3]
Like i told u ISLAM doest say that u SHOULD marry. Islam says that u can marry and look at the condition.
U also didnt tell me your solution for the increase in women population!!! "In the USA alone, women outnumber men by 7.8 million." are saying that they should all become public property??
hi! i think ur on the right path...keep thinking the way u do...there are lots of us out there. i am a Buddhist and am proud to be one because its all about the logic and everythin u were just talkin about in your post is in the philosohpy. and if a bunch of saffron clad monks have turned Buddhism into just another organised "religion" and the Buddha into just another "god" that doesn't mean we should accept it that way. Buddhism is not a religion, it's a way of life, something simple and practical. but people have made it into a bunch of rituals and chantings and unfortunately the world at large percieves it as such. I am a Buddhist and that makes me an atheist. but forget the labels either way, the Truth is truth. "His Way did not espouse ritual, magic, idolatry, altars, hymns or any meditational excerise that promised the Ultimate. Forget eternalities, live in the real world and try to understand it. It did insist on physical and mental discipline, but not for any mystic powers. Simply to function better, to be more intelligent, aware and efficient. It did not deny the existence of any god or Absolute or Infinite, nor did it affirm them, but it did express doubt as to their importance." (pg 278/9, A Spoke in the Wheel by Amita Kanekar)
Read that book and Buddhism as you've thought to know will change. remember the best advice Buddha gave was ""Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply becasue it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions becasue thay have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it." your mind is an enlightened one and whether you call yourself a Buddhist or an atheist, it is that enlightenment (awareness) that matters.
I think and believe that it is NOT a matter of priving who or what is right or wrong. Or whether one must have a belief system or not. oR, even further, whether we need to comfort ourselves about our belief system or not.
The problem we face on this planet is one that maikes a believer, or even a non believer, take his beliefs/non beliefs to a degree where he abstains from tol;erating everyone else and their beliefs.
Every one is entitled to his rights and beliefs and non beliefs.
All we need is to be able to do what we want to do for ourselves and leave the rest alone.
Is that too hard?
interesting post. I think I'm more or less on the same page as you on this one. still haven't come around to making a post about it though.
Anon..
How can you! How can you my good sir! How can you say such a terrible thing like, everyone entitled to his own beliefs? Don’t you have an ounce of pity left in your heart my good sir, for those Mormon children in Texas polygamist compound, whom forced to married to older man and make babies every year since they are tender 14 year old, according to their beliefs? Don’t you have tiny bit of pity left in you for those millions of Indian low cast people? Those young girls in Iraq send to jail and whipped because the y show their forehead? And those children in Sri Lankan deny medicine when they get sick, and faced to pray instead?
Ice Man,
God Do excites. I know as a fact. I know for sure. Because I’m the God. And thank you for pray me every day. When I have time, I will bring world peace. Meanwhile please don’t try to kill your child and prove me that you have faith in me. You may go to jail for attempted murder. And one important thing Ice Man – stop masturbating in the bathroom.
Woman lives longer – in developed countries at least – so the female population is higher. It may be shocking to you, that woman “allowed” live longer in some countries. But you don’t need a solution to stop that. It is a good thing (if any case if you do not understand).
20% of people in this world hold 80% of the wealth. Since they are capable of polygamy, they can have 4 wives, according to your logic. That makes 20% of people having 80% of woman population, and 80% of men fighting for rest 20% of woman. But again, it is not a big deal since that will not happen worldwide, so rich Arabs can purchase daughters from other poor countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan or Sri Lanka. Since poor could not do such a thing, you have to protect reserved woman stock in your country from horny men. That causes them to cover up woman all together for protection, female gender body part mutilation, and other unspeakable things. That is all together unhealthy situation for men, since men have to compete with other men. I can talk about DNA and other things regarding this issue, but since you may not capable of understanding such things I will not talk about them in details.
Niro,
Its a good post. But I dont think that arguments from your friend are serious.
This is about an observation on popular buddhism in Sri Lanka (I dont know about in other countries). Most of So called intellectuals, proffessionals, acedemics, students etc. etc. widely quote as "Buddhism is not a religion". Its rediculous statement when translate into Sinhalese. It says, "Buddhagama aagamak nove". At instant you call it "Buddhagama", no doubt, its a religion! Its something like this.... "Yaaldevi dumriya dumriyak nove"
BTW, my main contribution for this conversation is to quote from a great rationalist phylosopher - Bertrand Russell - about the religeous beleives. Its a very clear explaination and arguement.(source: www.wikipeadia.com)
Russell's teapot, sometimes called the Celestial Teapot, was an analogy first coined by the philosopher Bertrand Russell, intended to refute the idea that the burden of proof lies upon the sceptic to disprove unfalsifiable claims of religions. In an article entitled "Is There a God?", commissioned (but never published) by Illustrated magazine in 1952, Russell said the following:
“ If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time. ”
The problem is atheists have been portrayed historically as being amoral and void of a conscience. The new atheism declares that you can be a good, moral, caring & loving person and still be an atheist
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sorry about the spam but check this out :)
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