The reasons that started off my atheist journey are nothing original. I've always had a natural inclination towards skepticism and my reading of science has, to paraphrase Rushdie, shown me that I don't need a God to explain the world I live in. But here is a potted summary of the things that have cemented my atheism.
- False hope: In what seems to be an incredibly tough time for my family, the false hope that religion provides them just kills me. I am annoyed with the pointless rituals that my dad has been told to perform at 6.00 am on a Thursday, in a period of his life where he could use even a few extra minutes of rest.
- Fear: I am angry with astrologers who pick months and dates that will be good or bad. I am angry with suggestions that it is a "bad time" for a person and that their fate is pre-ordained. I am even more angry that giving them money can fix these ordainments.
I also hate the fear of death that religion brings on, while claiming to soothe it. When my grandmother died, the priest told us about her soul's journey through purgatory. His descriptions were graphic and I thought about it for days. My younger cousins did not need to hear that. - Notions of sanctity: At a practical level, there is nothing I abhor more than the rules around sanctity, and the solemnity of religious functions.
- Morality through rituals: The few bad people I've met considered themselves to be rather good because they were also religious. Religion gives them the licence to believe that all they need to is visit their place of worship regularly, perform their rituals and ask for forgiveness.
6 comments:
The pointless ritual things (I think) is about giving people comfort more than anything else.
The good/bad dates thing is something I've never understood.
The morality through religion thing gets me too. I knew someone who'd asked for cash payments so he could avoid tax but prayed with his family and sang devotional hymns every day. It's like you have a spiritual life and a non-spiritual life and they don't intersect. Yeah right.
Hi Suchi, I came here via Baradwaj's blog, intrigued to see someone with almost the same name as mine. Really liked your blog. How well you write!
Isn't atheism about believing in God or not believing in God? According to me the rituals do not make the religion. It is one's own beliefs that make them who they are.
I may not like the summary of things that you mention and I do not like to follow them. But it does not make me an atheist. The one name I call upon when I need strength is the God's name. It could be Allah, Christ or lord Muruga.
The problem i have with some atheists is their habit of forcing the believers that there is no god. There was a wonderful article I read in new york times (could not get the link now) sometime back regarding how religious fundamentalists and some atheists behave in the same way, a wonderful read.
Sorry for the long rant.
Hari Ohm.
Anonymous, no worries about the long rant!
I for one, can't dissociate belief in God with belief in religion. Neither can most religions.
The things I mention were the breaking point for me. There have been other reasons, over the years.
I understand the annoyance you have with atheists who force their views. I think there are opinionated people everywhere, desparate to convert people to their point of view. However, I think the contrast with religious fundamentalists is just pure rhetoric..
Percy, Richard Dawkins has an argument against this "consolation" power of religion. I can't quite remember what it is!
As for morality through ritual, you're spot-on about their not seeing the two sides of their life. This lack of a big-picture view is a problem in other spheres as well.
Shuchi, thanks! Keep visiting. :)
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