IS ATHEISM THE NEW COOL?
What would your reaction be if you found out that your best friend was going behind your back? Or if you scored a perfect 100 in your exams? Or if your favorite store closes down? Or when you finally lie in bed after a long day? Or when the person you absolutely hate gets the job for which you wished? While the expression may not be the same in every situation, the phrase that fits all would be: Oh My God!
While the very concept of God is often questioned, it is undeniable that the term itself has become a part of the universal vocabulary. This points to the ever-present, although sometimes ignored, idea of God. There are believers in Their existence, known as theism, and then there is a flat-out denial of Them, called atheism.
Atheism would include a substantial absence of belief in deities of any kind. There is a rejection of any and every entity or ritual that concerns a God. The term is quite commonly used. But is it used in its true essence? Let’s find out.
Before we discuss the prevalence of atheism, we must first understand the difference between religion and spirituality. Religion is a particular system that preaches a God and follows rituals pertaining to that system. Spirituality, on the other hand, is specific to the individual. It involves personal beliefs, practices, and traditions that bring one peace and purpose. There are commonalities between the two, but the primary difference is their specificity and rigidity. Atheism as a concept mainly attacks the basis of religion.
Now that we’ve established the difference between Religion and Spirituality, we delve into Religion’s internalized and undeniable presence in the Indian Subcontinent. The Census of 2011 showed about 99% of Indians as religious.
Recently, I surveyed about 57 people between 15–25 years of age. The results showed only 26.9% of people as being religious. At the same time, however, atheism could also be seen in about 17.3% of those surveyed. This is perhaps on account of spiritual inclination. Parental pressure was also found to be a factor in influencing about 55.4% of the population, which is astonishing, but in a country like India, believable.
Parents have three fatal weapons at their disposal: Emotional Blackmail, Rage, and when all else fails, Religious Threats. This age-old strategy works flawlessly in favor of parents throughout India. Very smartly, they first create the idea of an all-powerful, loving God and a religious system that should be followed strictly. Their next step is to create a dark side to the very same God, whose wrath can destroy the existence of every living being in the universe. Once the fear is instilled, the concept can be brought up at any given moment, irrespective of its appropriateness or necessity. This is only the root level, though. We can see That Indian political parties use these three weapons in a much-refined manner. You see, children aren’t half as gullible as ourselves when it comes to religion!
The Indian Subcontinent deserves a separate article altogether, and so, we move on.
The question I explore next is, how does an atheist differ from a theist? On asking 57 millennials, most answers involved the use of words like “logic,” “past experiences,” “evidence,” and “reality.” Now, this is where the problem lies. Religion is seen as antonymous to reason. Think of the religious as the topper at your school. This person will try, by hook or crook, to make their arguments acceptable. In an attempt to be right, they can go to any length, even if it’s revolting. Several logical fallacies, hence, play a role here. The first would have to be the fallacy called Bandwagon, which is the acceptance of norms and rules simply because a majority agrees with them. This is, perhaps, the best argument a theist has. Another fallacy committed here is that of the burden of proof, which is essentially that unless the opposition disproves one’s point, the point stands to be true.
While they are different, Religion and Reason can very well co-exist. Think about how many houses have a ‘Nimbu Mirchi’ at their entrance. While Hindus believe it protects one from evil eyes, it has a logic behind it. One of the main reasons for this practice is because this combination works as a pesticide, hence protecting the house from insects and pests. This is just one example of many. Even Sheldon Cooper, the epitome of genius, didn’t rule out the possibility of God, so it only seems fair to say that logic can exist alongside religion!
If religion and reason can be part of the same society, what makes an atheist? From a variety of responses that I received, the most popular ones were “past incidents” and “oppression.” I’m going to go out on a limb here and make an analogy that I might get bashed for. Imagine a gambling addict. This person has lost every penny s/he earned, yet s/he continues to gamble. This is how religion works. Sometimes, you have absolutely no reason to go forward, to preach or even believe in God, yet you continue to. There is, of course, the flip side to this coin, which is to stop the gamble, to lose all faith. I believe this is the case with a small percentage of people, since the motivation to continue is far stronger.
In recent times, an atheist’s objective is social deviation. How many times have you heard someone brag about the fact that they don’t believe in God or religious people being mocked or called “uncool”? This may not be the case in rural areas, but the urban counterparts make up for them. In recent times, religion and faith have become a subject of status. Punjabis are superiorised with their platefuls of Butter Chicken and Buckets of booze, while Baniyas are made to be meisers and makeshifters. The atheist, in this amazon of religions, stands proud as a rebel. The 21st century sees rebellion as desirable. Social deviation can be seen as a means of feeling powerful and free of oppression. This is probably why atheism is a trend and religion is seen as entrapment.
Today’s world sees agnosticism, atheism, rationalism, stoicism, monotheism, animism, and so on. These different religious systems have created a plethora of options and identities for people around the world. The catch, however, is not to get carried away by what others follow. One of the main reasons that religion attracts certain people or repels others is the fact that the individual is predisposed to it before one can make a conscious choice. In fact, 55.4% of the people in the survey believed parental influence could be a reason for their religious beliefs. It is essential to be open to all options and faiths. This helps form a religious identity that is individualistic.
So, where do we draw the line between reason and belief? As long as it doesn’t cause harm to self or others, holding a belief is perfectly normal. Basically, if you believe in flying cars but don’t bore someone about it, you’re going to be okay. Religion as a social institution creates another way through which people connect and be part of a community.
And here’s the pill you’re struggling to swallow: You may not be an atheist and simply a person of logic, trying to find a balance between religion and reason. When will the world understand the difference? Ironically, only God knows!
