No God? Are You Sure?

Off late, it is had become more common for people to self-declare themselves, as Atheists.  I tend to hear it more often among youngsters. I was curious to understand why this shift in pattern of thought. Is it just a trend? Or is it the excessive reliance in Science and technology? Or is it just the over confidence of in one’s own self? I was clueless.

I made a quick search on google to check some statistics.  I was surprised to find, that about 16% of the world population are Atheists, making them the 3^rd largest population, after Christianity and Islam. What was more alarming to see, was that the number of Atheists are proportionately increasing year after year. It was a bit of puzzle to me, because on one side I am able to witness the religious shrines of all the religions, getting over crowded with devotees, day after day and here on the other side is a contrasting figure of the number of people choosing to be  non- believers.

So what does, Atheism mean. The word “Atheism” itself is differently understood by different people and as such even an Atheist finds it difficult to explain, as to which classification of Atheism, he/she belongs too. For example, there are the agnostics, the antagonist, the secular, the non-religious and also a combination of one or more. The term, “Atheism” originates from the Greek word, “Atheos” which means “without God”. So, to put it simply, Atheist are people who don’t feel the need for God. On the contrary, “Theist” are those who believe that that there is something supreme beyond them to guide them, which they call God.

So “Atheists” and “Theists” are two contrasting sects of people, who have contrasting beliefs. For example:

• To an atheist, an idol is just a piece of rock, but to a theist it is an identity of God.
• To an atheist, it is absurd to think of God in a human form and give it a name, but a theist finds it as the best way to personify God.
• To an atheist, the universe was formed as a result of the big bang, but to a theist it was a creation of God.
• To an atheist, everything that happens in the world has a Science behind it, but to a theist, there is a divine force operating beyond it.

There are so many such contrasting beliefs. In a way, “Atheism” and “Theism” are just two different forms of spiritual enquiry. While the Theist, starts from the presupposition that there is God and finds evidence to substantiate his belief, the Atheist starts from the presupposition that there is no God and finds evidence to prove there is no God.  As it the nature of the human mind, to see only what it believes, both are right from their own experiences.

I have been an atheist myself, at one point of time. I have argued against the existence of God, but when I came to read and hear about some of the greatest thinkers, scientists, mathematicians, social workers such as Einstein, Ramanujan Mahatma Gandhi and many more, I became aware that they were ardent believers of God. All these people were far more intelligent than the common man and they belief in something beyond their intellectual comprehension, made me to think, that I could be wrong. This thought furthermore strengthened, when I became a member of an organisation called JCI, which had it’s first tenant as follows: “Faith in God, gives meaning and purpose to human life.” I pondered on this and could relate it as well.

One of the senior trainer of JCI, Mr. K.V. Ratnam, once quoted, “Science has an answer for all the questions. But man has not learned enough Science to know all the answers. Till then let us believe in God”. This was a new and interesting perspective.

In this context, it is pertinent to note that everyone thinks differently and therefore everyone has the right to choose what they want to be, and just because I am an Theist , I am not against the Atheist. It is just my appeal to Atheist, to periodically revisit our beliefs, from time to time. Because, while there is no hard and fast rule to believe in God, there is nothing we lose by believing in God.

It is purely our choice to be a Theist or an Atheist. What is more important is not to mock anyone’s belief. We should learn to respect this difference and give each other the space and freedom to be themselves, rather than argue and try to prove that we are right.

 

 D. Senthil Kannan,

Managing Trustee, PALMS, Tuticorin.

Author of "Transformational Thoughts" - A Journey of learning 

Email: senthilkannand@gmail.com