Quotes on atheism
corroborated Thoughts and expressions
"'Atheists do believe in something; maybe they believe in reason or truth. Are
not reason and truth a
significant aspect of God's nature?
Atheists use reason and the power of the mind to proclaim that the infinite,
illimitable, and transcendent
consciousness is non existent. But, can the Highest Transcendental
Consciousness be explained within the narrow confines of mental reason and the
domain of the mind? - Similarly, could words justify the existence or non -
existence of music?'
'They proved to me by convincing reasons that God does not exist; Afterwards I
saw God, for he
came and embraced me. And now what am I to believe- the reasoning of others or
my own
experience? Truth is what the soul has seen and experienced; the rest is
appearance, prejudice
and opinion.'
- Sri Aurobindo (Thoughts and aphorisms?)
There are good atheists, there are bad atheists; there are good religious
people, there are bad religious
people. What does this prove?
Atheism is not a reaction against God. Atheism is a reaction against religion -
organised religion which has
been coloured by human egoism and human misconceptions.
Errors in religion can never be proof that God does not exist. How frequently
is religion a pure expression
of God's will, and how frequently is religion a reflection of man's ignorance
and misunderstanding?
To concentrate on the flaws of religion is to miss the divine potential that
each religion can lead a seeker
to God. Divine religion is the love of God. When a seeker sincerely and
self-givingly practises the heart of
religion, he rises far beyond any outer imperfection of form.
When atheists dispute with religious fundamentalists we are surprised to see
that both groups share quite
a few similarities of belief. What are these similarities?
The desire to convert others.
The belief that mental reason is able to prove / disprove God.
An evangelical fervour that they must be correct.
A feeling that the other side is hopelessly misguided.Atheists generally
disbelieve in the monotheistic conception of an external God high above in
heaven. But,
the real question is whether this conception of God bears any relation to the
true nature of the omnipresent,
omnipotent and infinite consciousness of pure delight that is God?
The Buddha never talked about God. Does that mean the Buddha was an atheist?
No, the Buddha never talked
about God because he felt the infinite, all pervading consciousness of nirvana
could never be described in words.
To talk about God was so unsatisfactory that Buddha felt silence was more
powerful. But, the Buddha was a
shining example of the transforming power of the transcendent, illimitable
consciousness, which other people
may refer to as God.
Some religions emphasise the justice aspect of God, they give the impression
God is a tyrant who condemns
the majority of souls to eternal hell. Who wants to believe in that kind of
God?
God has inspired many prophets to preach a message of peace and forgiveness. If
people ignore this, whose
fault is it - God or his followers? Jesus Christ said 'love thy enemy as
thyself' - If during the middle ages this
immortal utterance had been give any importance, would the Crusades have ever
occurred? Unfortunately,
adherents have often chosen to ignore the divine utterances of great prophets.
But, can we blame God, if
people give greater importance to their egoistic understanding and prejudices.
Atheism plays a role in highlighting religious fanaticism and misuse of
occultism..
True religion will always remain unperturbed and detached from the arguments
and criticisms of disbelievers.
A true lover of God, will never feel the need to defend himself against
atheism. Spirituality is not about proving
anything to others. Spirituality is about the inner life; if others are not
ready to follow a spiritual life and believe
in God, a real aspirant feels it is not his responsibility - it is Gods.
There is a story about a poor, dishevelled man who was not able to enter into
the temple; a temple frequented
by all the great and notable figures of society. The poor man felt miserable
and cursed God, saying if this is God's
will then I don't want to believe in you. Later, in a dream God came and spoke
to the poor man. saying, 'please
don't feel bad about being kept out of the temple. They don't let me in either.
The colossal monuments and temples
of organised religion, which are supposed to house God, are often bereft of God.
Is it such a bad thing to doubt God's existence? It is often through self
enquiry about the nature of God and the
self that can we make real spiritual progress. It is often when we feel a sense
of lack, abandonment and loneliness
that we actually start to be a sincere seeker. Look at how many mystics, before
their own realisation, experienced
a process known as the 'dark night of the soul'. - A feeling of complete
hopelessness and distance from God. But,
the night is often darkest before the dawn. Maybe, atheism is just a necessary
stage in man's evolution.
Some Atheists not only disbelieve in God, they also seem to actively dislike
God. Poor God doesn't know whether to
laugh or cry.
Hatred and fanaticism have long used the cloak of religion and God to try and
give a sense of self-justification.
The fanatics may be able to delude themselves. But, God can always see the
inner motives of man.
To some a person may be a father, to his work colleagues he will be Mr Smith,
to his parents he will be 'their son'.
If a person gets called by different names, he doesn't mind, he remains the
same person. It is the same with God,
countless are the different names used to refer to him. But, we cannot say that
there is only 1 or 2 correct ways to name a consciousness with is ultimately
ineffable.
It is said we will never find God if we look only in the external world. God
can only be experienced by our self. But,
here 'our self' implies a oneness with the rest of creation
‘He is an atheist who does not believe in himself. The old religion said that
he was an atheist who did not believe in God.
The new religion says that he is the atheist who does not believe in himself.
But it is not selfish faith, because the Vedanta,
again, is the doctrine of oneness. It means faith in all, because you are all.’
-Swami Vivekananda
'True, God's creation is full of unimaginable suffering. But, no suffering is
eternal; suffering is only temporary. The
greatest mystics and realised Souls bring back the message that this world of
suffering is not man's final end.
It is the message of Sri Ramachandra, Sri Krishna, Lord Buddha; it is the
message of Christ and many others.
The fact we may struggle to believe this message does not make it any less
true.'
>From Delight we came into existence.
In Delight we grow.
At the end of our journey’s close,
Into Delight we retire.
-The Upanishads:
'The nature of God is infinite delight.
But, in the West, this aspect of God has rarely been given any importance.
Perhaps it would be easier to believe
in this aspect of God, rather than the God portrayed in Western society?Atheism
is said to take great strength
from the theory of evolution. But, in the great spiritual traditions of the
East we learn that the nature of God is
never static; consciousness is ever transcending, ever evolving. Creation is
ever evolving with an aspiration to
return to its source, the primordial state of union with God. What is God, if
not this evolving consciousness?'
'Atheism is another name for absurdity,
For there is no human being
Who is empty of faith
In something or in someone.
God, being the universal Existence-Life,
Embodies that very thing
Or that very person.'
- Sri Chinmoy"
Charudatta Prabhudesai
