Skip to main content

Why it requires much more courage of conviction to be an atheist than a believer

By NS Venkataraman* 
All religions explain the concept of God in one way or the other and lay down guidelines for leading life. Many believers readily accept the advocacy of the religions without questioning. However, there are persons who do not want to readily follow the grammar pronounced by religions and want to scrutinize the details and may refuse to accept them . They are known as non believers or atheists.
The question is whether we should reject the non believers as negative thinkers and rebels or view them as robust thinkers with courage of conviction.
Ever since the humans and other creatures happened in the world (when was it?), there have been what appears to be an unresolved question as to from where the humans and creatures come and where they would go after death. The limited explanation given is that humans and creatures are created due to chemical and biological reaction in the womb of the mother and death happens due to the weakening of the cells or other unnatural reasons. Obviously, such explanations do not go beyond a point.
In such scenario, several religions have sprung up across the world over several centuries of human existence and in all these religions , there is a common name used “God” and for the understanding of the people , God is described as the creator and ruler of everything in the world. Then, many mythological stories and events have been described across the world to further establish the concept of God.
Of course, religions are important in human life, as they lay down guidelines and norms for living by the humans with peace of mind, by observing compassion , detachment, charity and so on . Without religions, the world will be a scene of anarchy and chaos. While the religions have not been successful in totally eliminating chaos and anarchy, it certainly helps in keeping it under control.

What Hindu religion advocates?

According to the Hindu philosophy (Vedanta), God is not outside but within oneself in the deep mindset. Several scriptures such as Vedas, Upanishads in Hindu religion stress on sustained meditation to realise God within oneself, stating Aham Brahmasmi (Brihadranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10 of the Yajur Veda) – Aham Brahmasmi describes the unity of the Atman ( individual self or soul) with Brahman (the absolute). It is typically translated as “I am Brahman” or less literally as “I am divine”. It is pointed out that the ultimate goal of human life is union of self with the higher self (God).
The Hindu scriptures emphatically state that one has to realise the consciousness within by sustained meditation and then only can experience God. This realization of consciousness leads to Supreme Bliss, otherwise termed as “Ananda”.
Like Hindu religion, all other religions also basically stress on realization of God, though the methodology advocated may be different to some extent. Unable to find a convincing answer to the vexed question about the origin and end of life in their thought process, majority of people simply accept the theories and explanations offered by the various religions , as a way to move out of the uncertain ideas and confusion in the mindset . Such persons are the believers.
Among the believers, there are thought leaders who are generally known as saints or realized souls who preach about the concept of God by their writings , speeches and even by demonstration in some ways and in some cases.
The saints, who are much respected by the believers, advocate belief in God in the mindset and make it easy for anyone to believe in God by stating that beyond such thought process of having faith in God , the human brains cannot introspect beyond. The concept of God is not something that one can speak about or discuss in debate. The saints suggest sustained prayer and meditation to realise God within oneself.
Many people do not understand such concept fully or adequately in spite of some efforts. However, many people conclude that respected saints who have been preaching such ideas over last several centuries cannot be wrong.
These saints also pass away one day like any of their followers. When such passing away of the saints happen, the followers start worshipping the saints as incarnation of God who lived amongst them. Then , place of worship are built for these saints and customary worship practices are evolved over time and these saints also virtually become God in the mindset of the disciples and followers.

The predicament of non-believers

The non believers (known as atheists) do not want to simply adopt or approve the practice of accepting the existence of God as a matter of faith without questioning and they continue their process of thinking as to what is all that life is about and why life happens at all. These non believers are reluctant to view God as a mere creator or ruler , just like a king of a kingdom , as it is sought to be explained by various religious preachers.
In such scenario, researchers are now working on Human Genome Editing . The efforts relate to creation of a small peace of RNA with a short “guide” sequence that attaches (binds) to a specific target sequence in a cell’s DNA. This genome editing is used to alter human genomes or animal genomes.
Several experimental efforts relating to genetically modified or engineered animals have been attempted and scientists have succeeded to some extent. For example, the “super pig “ have been engineered with human growth harmone gene and resulting in transgenic sheep Dolly. It is reported that the transgenic sheep Dolly are abnormal , compared with ordinary lambs. However, the fact is that such transgenic sheep Dolly have been successfully created by the scientists with whatever inadequacies.
The non believers think that such scientific development relating to creation of transgenic animal in research laboratories only go to show that the concepts said in religious teachings such as God creating humans and creatures, rebirths, fate , karma etc. need to be critically reexamined.

Are the non believers any better?

Now, are we to term these non believers as negative thinkers or hard thinkers or genuine thinkers or simply people with negative mindset? In any case, the fact is that non believers also can not go beyond questioning the believers and cannot offer any alternate concept or credible explanation. Finally, it has to be pointed out that in most cases, neither the believers nor the non believers have the complete understanding on what they believe or do not believe.
However, the believers are of the view that in the realm of things, it is better to believe rather than not to believe, since believing in God enable individuals to live in peace, without bothering to think on the vexed question about origin and end of human life and would enable them to move on with the life process for whatever it is worth.
Religion also provides the believers confidence to reconcile themselves to the event of death and enable them to appreciate the fact that death is natural and inevitable, whatever may happen to “oneself” after death. In essence, religions prepare individuals to accept or mentally prepare themselves to the event of death, however dislike they may have for death event.
It has been seen that number of non believers have turned to be vague believers at the fag end of their life and reconcile themselves to accept that they do not know anything better than the believers, when the call of death knocks at their doorstep. All genome researchers may not be non believers per se, even as they continue their efforts “to develop humans and animals”, in addition to what God has been doing.
It requires much more courage of conviction to be an atheist (non believer) than a believer. The non believers often argue that in their thought process , they are no less genuine than believers.
In any case, generally, the world with majority of people being believers, do not view the non believers as out of box thinkers but as rebels or rule breakers. In such circumstances, it is inevitable that non believers are only few and far between.
---
*Trustee, Nandini Voice For The Deprived, Chennai

Comments

TRENDING

From snowstorms to heatwaves: India’s alarming climate shift in 2025

By Dr. Gurinder Kaur*  Climate change is no longer a future concern—it is visibly affecting every country today. Since the beginning of 2025, its effects on India have become starkly evident. These include unseasonal snowfall in hill states, the early onset of heatwaves in southern regions, a shortening spring season, and unusually early and heavy rainfall, among other phenomena.

Madhya Pradesh village's inspiring example of how small budget effort conserves water amidst heat wave

By Bharat Dogra  Heat waves have been intensifying over vast areas of India in recent days and there are also many reports of water scarcity making the conditions worse for people. However the situation can differ significantly in various villages depending on whether or not significant water conservation efforts have been made. In recent years I have visited several villages of good water conservation efforts where I noticed that even at the time of adverse weather conditions, people of these villages as well as farm and other animals feel important relief in terms of access to adequate water. Due to water and moisture conservation, conditions of farms and pastures is also much better. What is more, with the participation and involvement of people, even quite low budgets have been utilized well to achieve very useful and durable results.     

Population explosion: India needs a clear-headed policy, data-driven governance, long-term planning

By N.S. Venkataraman*  At the upcoming G7 summit in Canada, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited as a special guest, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau citing two main reasons: India’s rise as the world’s fifth-largest economy and its status as the most populous nation. While economic growth is undoubtedly a point of pride, the latter distinction—India’s population—raises an important question: should this be seen as a strength or a source of growing concern? India has not conducted a national census since 2011, leaving the current population figures largely speculative. Estimates place the population at around 1.4 billion, with projections reaching 1.8 billion by 2050. Despite modest declines in fertility and death rates, the annual population growth remains between 1.5% and 2%. The next census, scheduled for 2026, will provide a more accurate demographic picture, but until then, policymaking remains uninformed by crucial data. Over the past eleven years, the gov...

Victim to cricketing politics, Alvin Kalicharan was a most organized left handed batsman

By Harsh Thakor* On March 21st Alvin Kalicharan celebrates his 75th birthday. Sadly, his exploits have been forgotten or overlooked. Arguably no left handed batsman was technically sounder or more organized than this little man. Kalicharan was classed as a left-handed version of Rohan Kanhai. Possibly no left-handed batsmen to such a degree blend technical perfection with artistry and power.

Central London discussion to spotlight LGBTQ+ ex-Muslim rights and persecution

By A Representative   On June 13, 2025, the Dissident Club in Central London will host a public discussion to mark the 18th anniversary of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) and to commemorate World Refugee Day. The event, scheduled from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, will feature speakers Ali Malik, Maryam Namazie, and Taha Siddiqui, who are expected to address the intersecting challenges faced by LGBTQ+ ex-Muslims globally.

Exploring 'Volokolamsk Highway': A tale of Soviet heroism and resilience

By Harsh Thakor*  "Volokolamsk Highway" is a classical war novel by Alexander Bek, first published in Russian in 1944 and translated into English in 1958. Set during WWII on the Eastern Front, it describes critical battles fought by the Soviet Red Army against Nazi forces advancing toward Moscow in October 1941. Republished by Foreign Languages Press in 2023, the novel offers a vivid portrayal of Soviet soldiers' struggles to defeat fascism. It is recommended for those seeking insight into Soviet heroism during World War II.

Public health experts criticize Ranveer Singh’s McDonald’s collaboration in open letter

By A Representative   A high-profile marketing tie-up between Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh and fast-food giant McDonald’s has come under fire from health advocates, who warn that celebrity endorsements of ultra-processed foods are exacerbating India’s public health crisis. On June 14, "Delhi Times" splashed a front-page advertisement unveiling a McDonald’s meal named after Singh, celebrating it as a symbol of youth appeal and brand synergy. However, the move has prompted concern among health professionals, particularly Dr. Arun Gupta, a well-known pediatrician and public health advocate, who has responded with a sharply worded open letter published on his blog .

Battle for right to mourn: Renewed restrictions on families retrieving bodies of deceased

By Harsh Thakor*   The right of families to claim the bodies of their deceased relatives should be fundamental, yet history has repeatedly shown how political and security policies can obstruct this process, turning mourning into a prolonged struggle. Over the past two decades, families of individuals killed in armed encounters have faced barriers ranging from bureaucratic hurdles to outright intimidation. Legal victories momentarily secured this right, but recent developments suggest a reversal, with practices reminiscent of past repressive tactics resurfacing under the current administration.   A Legacy of Restriction Following the failed 2004 peace talks, security operations intensified, leading to the deaths of numerous individuals classified as revolutionaries. Families attempting to retrieve bodies encountered resistance, often needing official certification from police stations to prove their relationship with the deceased. In many cases, authorities withheld ...

Terrorism, geopolitics and the Kashmir dilemma: Unraveling a global crisis rooted in imperial agendas

By Ram Puniyani*  The recent terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam has triggered a chain of events, including retaliatory strikes on terrorist bases in Pakistan. With a ceasefire in place, it is imperative to take a deeper look at how to address this cancerous phenomenon that continues to haunt our societies. Terrorism has captured the global spotlight particularly after the 9/11 attacks in the US, where over 2,000 people died in the Twin Tower tragedy. The term “Islamic terrorism” was popularised by US media and soon picked up globally, unfairly linking an entire religion to violent extremism. While individual acts of terror can be identified, defining "terrorism" as a concept remains elusive—even the United Nations has not succeeded in articulating a universally accepted definition. In India, terrorism has mostly been visible in the recurring violence in Kashmir, where radicalised Muslim youth, often brainwashed, have carried out deadly attacks. The 26/11 Mumbai attacks in ...