ATHEISM

(The Path)

In studying the systems of philosophy, it is necessary that the mind adopt a discipline of impartiality and sobriety. It must then be raised to an exalted mental condition through the process of reasoning. This intellectual function is required for the comprehension of recondite and invisible truths of matter and nature. The invisible evidence of these scientific truths is the only path, which can lead man to the realization of the super-natural.

The argument that Christian values are the final verdict in the progress of modern civilization is not true. Proper organization is the answer and not religion. It is clear the sources of all sciences are undoubtedly nonexistent in all revelations of existing dogmas. The support of this argument is even more vivid when it comes to the individuals who are in control of the infrastructure of modernization, the liberal-minded who cared less of God and atheists, but never the fervent righteous.

Atheists do not believe in any living nonmaterial spirit. There are two groups of atheists, one denies the existence of a living spirit but do hold the world to be governed by a non-intelligent, with immutable laws which are eternal and work automatically. The other denies the existence of even these eternal laws, and activities are considered to be as coincidental as the playing of a child.

“The advance of western civilization has been partly a story of gradual victory over oppressive religion, and these brilliant doubters were men and women who didn’t pray, didn’t kneel before altars, didn’t make pilgrimages, didn’t recite creeds.” [i]

On the other hand, science without religion cannot solve the enormous crisis of a dying planet. Science is fill with imprecision which in turn influences useless ventures costing billions of dollars. Science is driven to massive exploratory and investigative ventures, which though seem promising at times, but are baring fewer solutions. Their main objectives are certainly to find a cure no matter how costly it might be. The most inexpensive and the best cure, which is prevention, the one true Vedic religion, is simply eluding them.

“Mankind is collectively engaged under the guidance of fools (i.e., political leaders) and with the ingenuity of slaves (i.e., technicians) in exterminating itself.” [ii]

The atheists are right not to believe in an anthropomorphic God who circumvents the laws of nature. Otherwise then for all practical purposes, it will be right for a magician to qualify as God. Atheists do not bare the burden of proving that there is any God, but rather place the onus on the theist to prove his assertion that there is a God. Since it will be based on an Omniscient God breaching His natural laws whenever it is fitting to give credibility to an answer. This makes it a difficult task for the theist of an irrational doctrine to prove His existence an impossibility.

Atheists will say that there is no God, whilst the agnostics simply do not know. The agnostics are literally forced to such conclusions due to irrationality. They do not deny the goodness in everyday life, but yet cannot understand the superstitions, tyranny, barbarism, impiety and sensualism that impede the free functioning of a moral and ethical society.

While the dubious Agnostics claim that they really do not know, the dissident Atheists are absolutely sure there is no God. These kinds of beliefs give no incentive for mankind to thread the path of ethics and morality. To be young and then old, to suffer and enjoy, work and relax and to be rational and credulous are all for nada. It therefore, does not offer a choice as either path brings the same result in the end.

The happenings of the world are so nebulous, so unpredictable and so indefinite that no one can prophesy with certainty what will happen the next moment. Some rely totally on the main fundamental laws of science that govern the universe. The atheist’s conception of the universe’s creation is ‘The big bang theory,’ that a giant explosion that caused the formation of all the luminous bodies in the universe. But Atheists really cannot explain the habitation of this one planet, earth, and its operation within law, order, design and purpose.

If man gradually evolved from a very primitive animal life form, where did that life form have its origin? Man has an intellect but how it came about is unknown. It is absolutely impossible that such order and design of earth and life forms could have occurred by chance or by an accident. No one expects an accidental explosion in a print shop to produce all dictionaries. This is the disturbing gap between what creation has accomplished and what the theory of evolution can explain.

Science, as systematized knowledge, has existed among men during all the eons of their earthly life. The amount of scientific knowledge possessed by man in different ages in different climes has surely varied, but the fact that in all epochs of human history he knew science cannot be denied.

The testimony of excavations repudiates the evolutionary hypothesis. Humanity has from the day of its origin, not been progressing in discovery. As application of the laws of science, were going on in different parts of the earth at all ages. Today there is irrefutable evidence of geological finds, which are bringing to light the ancient cultural wealth of their prehistoric ancestors that are in no way inferior in the luster of present scientific glamour of the most civilized country of the world. If the history of humanity is upward evolution why is progress in certain directions interlaced with retrogressions and decadence in others?

The theory of evolution, which is a natural selection, is an indication of nature’s imperfection. According to it, nature is still improving. This theory points out the absence in nature now, of the best forms that it will produce in the future. Since decay begins from creative perfection, the belief that out of nothing, nothing can come, the pre-existence of all things in nature and in their later manifestations are more conducive to sound reasoning.

The theory of evolution has also failed in many other ways. If man evolved from monkeys it has to be a natural law, which the atheists believe to be immutable. So why has the process of evolution come to a dead stop? There are still great number of apes and monkeys around who could have been quarter man - three quarter apes, half man and half ape and three quarter man - quarter ape and so on. The world population for thousands of years past should have consisted of those from human births and those who evolved. Yet why no remains?

“Nature has intercepted such production by making hybrid barren, or the old species recurrent, which indicates that such species had a distinct beginning.” [iii]

If it was by the process of copulation on the same principle from one creature to the other, why was it that a similar result had ceased to be brought about in later ages? Obviously the copulation of an animal of one species with that of another, did not result in off-spring.

We would also be at loss to trace the origin of language and the possession of Divine knowledge, which are peculiar to mankind only and which are not self-acquired. No man can have acumen if he is not taught so who taught the first man? Animals rely mainly on instinct, but man cannot rely totally on his instinct. Where did he lose it?

Supporters of such an evolution theory can only be those who believe primitive man to be like a savage or a cave man, then a barbarian in the mediaeval age and has now become civilized. Having conceived such an idea is not difficult since their present development from a savage to a civilized state is a well-known fact. Still, the hypothesis that makes this theory possible is not reasonable. No savage nation has ever become self-civilized. We can always trace the civilization of one nation to another, which is already civilized.

“In the course of seven centuries,” says Lord Macaulay, “this wretched and degraded race have become the greatest and most highly civilized people, have spread their dominions over every quarter of the globe, have scattered the seed of mighty empires and republics over vast continents.....have carried the science of healing, the means of locomotion and correspondence, mechanical art, every manufacture, everything that promotes the convenience of life, to a perfection.”[iv]

What a prodigious improvement do we mark in history? If the English have made this immense progress during seven centuries, what could, beside the want of the rudiments of civilization, confine them to their savage state for more than some thousands of years? If we go back to the history of any nation, the remedy has its origin in a previously existing civilization. The English from the Romans, they from the Greeks, the Greeks from the Egyptians and they from the Indo-Aryans.

One of the originators of the Physical Evolution Theory, Dr. A. R. Wallace was the first to strike down the Social Evolution Theory. He rightly affirmed that:

"The Veda admittedly the oldest book in the library of mankind contains the essential teachings of the most advanced religious thinkers and is a vast system of religious teachings which are pure and lofty.” [v]

He further wrote in “Social Environment and Moral Progress,” strongly refuting the social and moral evolution theory:

“In the earliest records which have come down to us from the past, we find ample indications that accepted standard of morality and the conduct resulting form these were in no degree inferior to those which prevail today, though in some respects, they were different from ours. The wonderful collection of hymns known as the Vedas are a vast system of religious teachings as pure and lofty as those of the finest portions of the Hebrew Scriptures. Its authors were fully our equals in their conception of the universe and the Deity expressed in the finest poetic language.”

“In it (Veda) we find many of the essential teachings of the most advance religious thinkers.”

“We must admit that the mind which conceived and expressed in appropriate language, such ideas as are everywhere present in those Vedic hymns, could not have been inferior to those of the best of our religious teachers and poets to our Milton, Shakespeare and Tennyson.” [vi]

The function of the world is not certain nor does it display any purpose or program. The world has not been made by any intelligent being according to a well-planned scheme so that we might know how and why a certain incident took place. It is merely a blind alley. Who can say why the nose of a man has been located between his two eyes and why has a human’s hand five fingers and not six? Why has the donkey no horns on his head or why has a goat only two horns and a rhinoceros one? The only thing we can say is that we see such phenomena, but it has neither a cause nor a reason nor a purpose.

Undoubtedly, like the theists, believers of one God or many, their irrational doctrines consist of many unanswered questions. The disbeliefs arise out of an All-perfect, All-powerful and an All-wise God being imperfect. Man is deemed to be weak and fallible and therefore the Superior Being gets the censure for causing pain and suffering to his subjects. The atheist expects to see a creation where mankind is totally imbued with piety. A world where pain and suffering are absent, and there is one religion for all races, which is in perfect harmony with nature and science.

The cycle of creation is only natural. The universal goal of man should not be aimed at making our present creation eternal, but to uplift our souls individually by following the one true path. This in turn will enable us, and those to come, to live a happy and prosperous life until the end comes. An atheist might ask “to what end are ethics and morality necessary?”.

One would not care to live, if life were a continuous fall. We all look forward to a high state, which if not achieved, we wish to live it again and yet again. Strange, our ambitions cannot find satisfaction at the end of only one life. There is never fulfillment for all that we have partly strive for, while we live. If there is no chance or chances for completion, then surely it will be a waste of energy of both God and man.

.Here is a logical telephone conversation with Agnostic Mr. Charles Templeton, author of “Farewell to God.”

Singh: "Mr. Templeton, to doubt the existence of God, you would have examined the tenets of all religion to come to such conclusion."

Templeton: "Yes, I have done so."

Singh:" What is your concept of the Vedic theology?"

Templeton: "Oh, I did not make any studies of that one."

Singh: "You are not being fair to yourself."

Templeton: (Nervously) "Ok, you convince me that there is a God."

Singh: "For everything that is made there is a maker and for everything we know we were taught."

Templeton: "We are not taught, we learn. We see others do and we follow. If I should bounce a ball up and down, I do not need anyone to tell me that it is the law of gravity that pulls it down. I know that."

Singh: "Mr. Templeton, if you were brought up by a bunch of wolves what language would you speak?"

Templeton: "Wolf language, of course!"

Singh: "Are you trying to tell me that a wolf can comprehend the law of gravity?"

Templeton: "I have to go, now."

Is it any wonder why Templeton was in a hurry to go?

Many of his types are bold and courageous before the credulous where they are in sole command. But such boldness and courage becomes artificial, when challenged to an open debate, before a truly wise audience. Their claim of proper reasoning in seeking their truth becomes just as frivolous as the credulous, although they seem to have the upper hand.

Templeton also claimed that if there was a God how could He let children die of starvation in Somalia for all He had to do was to send a little rain. This kind of external evidence to prove His existence is most childish and foolish. There are always positive and negative forces. If positive things prove God’s existence then the negative will void it the same way.

A baby is born innocent and pure, and brings unlimited happiness to the parents. He becomes a youth endowed with strength, learning and playfulness. He enters manhood with the convincing desire to succeed in the daily challenges ahead. Through perseverance and dedication the accomplishments of his heart’s desires are fulfilled only to be thwarted by old age and finally death. Whom does the agnostic blame, man or God?

A man buys a new house, very elegant with all the facilities and comforts of life. The aroma of a freshly painted house, new carpet and polished floors and stairways bring a special delight of joy to the heart. As the years pass by the once new and beautiful house starts to lose its glory and splendor as aging takes its natural course. Finally demolishment becomes inevitable and it is gone. Whom does the agnostic blame, man or God?

The proud owner of a expensive new luxury car is the envy of the neighborhood. He takes great delight in admiring his prized possession so beautiful and colorful. The comfortable ride on the superbly soft springs and shocks is an incentive to keep on driving forever. The compelling brand-new look, design and smell add an addictive presence to keep it clean. But by and by the beauty starts to fade and as the mileage and general repairs increase, the final journey to the junk yard is inevitable. Whom does the agnostic blame, man or God? And so the list of natural and premature destruction of all things created goes on and on. Is this all by chance?

The agnostics will find it conclusive that neither the maker nor man is responsible for the natural end of what is made. After death the soul is embodied again and again. As the house and car are, demolished new ones are being built. It is the law of nature, that all things created has to come to an end. This universe was created before, is created now, and will be again in the future. The cycle of making and maker, creating and a creator is eternal.

A man can live to one hundred years and more in excellent health and profound happiness. The physical body is the vehicle in which the soul, the passenger, travels to salvation. The abhorrent and defamatory use of all such impurities like, meat, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, tea and coffee, excessive sensual indulgence, wanton destructions of wildlife and total unrighteousness (atheism and dogmas) reap untold misery and pain or untimely death.

This mode of living fosters unhealthy and prejudicial conditions for the soul starting a new life. The house and car getting utter neglect of regular maintenance will certainly fall apart sooner than expected. The atheist will find that all unnecessary discomforts and unhappiness are caused by man’s violation of God’s divine laws.

“Ignorance of the Law is no excuse.” How many times have we not heard this line? Every nation has its constituted laws as guidelines to foster a disciplinary society and whenever they are violated we are penalized. Are we supposed to blame the Law makers? If a pardon should be granted for breeching these laws then there will be no deterrence and thus it will obviously lead to chaos. It is never intended for punishment but deterrence.

Some atheists believe that as long as you are alive you must enjoy life all you can. Beg, borrow or steal to enjoy all the pleasures of the world, there is nothing to look forward to at the end. When you die that is it; all is over there is no other purpose of creation. Millions find this belief the simplest, most exciting and the most sensual approach to their lives. There is no fixed principle and everything depends upon chance.

Whatever is happening in the present is due to chance and whatever happens in the future will be depended upon chance. Such mentality offers no incentive to man. It makes a man lazy, irresponsible and reckless. Every accomplishment is the result of a goal set at one time or the other. Nothing positive or successful can come without a specific aim or objective. Morality and ethics are the Divine presence in us and their automatic use bring us just rewards.

“There is no turpitude in drinking wine, eating flesh and committing adultery, for that is the natural way of created beings, but abstinence brings great reward.” [vii]

Abstinence always requires a strenuous effort and an uphill battle to conquer the forces of evil within by the practice of virtue. This battle can only be won by the practice of Yoga, the one true path. The reward is true happiness on earth and finally, emancipation, which is extreme finite bliss.

“Water washes off the impurities of the body, truth exalts the mind, knowledge and strict devotion to duty elevate the soul and possession of ideas refines the intellect.” [viii]

Here is a final thought that connects the reward of emancipation. Today man’s quest is exploring the universe to discover the science of the cosmic, which is beyond the material universe. We may only come to know a tiny fraction of our material universe. Beyond that, it is only for the emancipated soul to roam to its delight and learn more of the natural science of all God’s creation, within and beyond our universe.

The personal world of the embodied soul must first experience a preview to this happiness and only then, can it have an effect on our souls in this chaotic world. Universal happiness is unattainable in this present age, but individual happiness is a reality and can be achieved in this life and the soul will move onto higher and higher spectrums of happiness life after life and finally emancipation.

The Atheist’s position is that the traditionalist historical concepts of a God are quite fallacious. That the notion of some ``super power'' is not now acceptable proof by existing scientific methods or by the accumulation of knowledge presently accessible to man. Therefore the Atheists live as if there were no God, no efficacy in prayer, and no life after death. They are free from theism. They bet everything on this for being precise. The agnostic, on the other hand, is gutless and prefers to keep one safe foot in God's camp.

AIn fact, I think that science without religion is lame and, conversely, that religion without science is blind. Both are important and should work hand-in-hand. It seems to me that whoever doesn’t wonder about the truth in religion and in science might as well be dead.” [ix]

It takes an intelligent and curious being to examine the tenets of all the religions of the world before concluding that there is no God. Since the atheists are on that path of reasoning, one step further will ultimately lead them to the right path of pure monotheism. It is through perception of a painting that the creative talent of an artist can be visualized. Why is such perception not valid in the order and design of this creation by a Supernatural force?

In Christianity, Islam and Judaism, God is described as a loving entity who created the universe. But they cannot justify that love when He is guilty of inflicting fire, flood, famine, plague, pestilence, war and drought on mankind. This kind of intolerant teaching leads to the atheistic views of many. This brings in the concept of God as unknowable which even the dogmatic theist cannot conceptualize or demonstrate within reason.

The argument resorted to by religionists or mystics are irrational as the dogma itself. A personal religious experience with God, Jesus or whatever is simply a bald assertion and by no means can be considered an argument. An atheist with any religious experience will admittedly be equal in implying that there is no God also.

Since it is perceived by a vast majority that man was originally taught, then logics tells me that discoveries of such studies should be made in consultations of the different texts of all past and existing religions. To evade this most logical path to finding the source of all creation, is an affront to the code of ethics of critical thinking.

It is an abomination of all logic to lay the foundation of atheism on the contradictions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam or any other dogmas that have their sources in mythology and aesthetics. Certainly, it is the dawn of our enquiries but to end it there, is the imminent defeat of all logics. When true knowledge is realized there are no questions left unanswered, a feat that cannot be accomplished as an atheist.

Thus the critical thinking of an atheist comes to an abrupt end outside the irrationality of religious dogmas whilst that of the pure monotheist is unlimited.

The evangelical atheists are of similar characteristics of their Christian brothers. Both are suffering from the Caucasian superiority complex. They are adamant in their intent to some how, and prove in every conceivable way that in the Caucasoid lies the most rational answer to the source of our creation through scientific evolution. This racial inertia that started some five thousand years ago is the result of all our present adverse conditions, and if it continues, there is no doubt the worst is imminent.

Caucasians who discover an absurd and moronic belief to be an embarrassment to good reasoning obviously retreat to atheism. The comfort of atheism offers them condescension as their rationality supersedes the credulity that surrounds them. This superiority complex binds them to these two categories as there is no effort made to go beyond the current and existing irrational doctrines to investigate further.

Atheists are willing to wager that there is no God and if there is a Just God, He will forgive them for an honest mistake. There is a better chance for them than the Christian or Muslim who accept an unjust Christian or Muslim God who will burn all nonbeliever and sinners in hell.

They argue that if this unjust God finds a certain glee in burning sinners and disbelievers then who knows He might turn on His faithful for the fun of it. The Koran and the Bible portray an unjust God, which makes the Christians and the Muslims vulnerable to His injustices. Thus the atheists find themselves in a better position of not believing in a God who could be unjust.

The power of reasoning is unlimited and to limit it to atheism is no innocent mistake. A just God is Just, and all mistakes are mistakes. There is no exception or compromise to His justice. As the mortal saying goes “ignorance of the law is no excuse,” the same applies to the eternal laws of the Supreme Being. Irrationality is the foundation of atheism, and belief, the foundation for the most strenuous of God-believers.

A young science student, Gurudutta Vidyarthi, M.A., a companion of Maharishi Swami Dayanand was a prolific atheist. He was an eye witness to the strange events that surrounded the Swami’s death that finally authenticated a radical faith in the absolute truth of the Supreme. Before his death at age twenty-seven he left a message for the world. It is most appropriate for the credulous who only professes blind beliefs and the atheists who so vehemently deny the efficient cause of the universe.

“The visible or the external plane of existence is the one that is familiar to all of mankind but renders no Divine Light to the idiotic mind caged in matter."

"Geology¼. Astronomy....Natural History¼Phrenology¼ Mathematics¼. Chemistry¼. Our planet¼.. The universe of matter gives no record of His existence. Where next shall we search? The universe of mind! Read the millions of volumes written on the subject, and in all the speculations, the assertions, the assumptions, the theories and creeds, man has only stamped the indelible impress of his mind on every page, Human records are, at the best delineations of human character, phases of human mind, pictures of human existence, but where is God?"

“The true student of nature contemplates the invisible in the visible which produces the highest reverence for truths pertaining to the association of the first principle of life and activity. His aspirations are purely of an intellectual and moral character. He is free from the brute - passion and dislikes. Devotion and meditation, confidence and dispassion allow the beams of wisdom to softly enter and shed a mellow, agreeable luster on his feelings and intellect."

“The expanded intellect, and not foolish and baseless prayer, recognizes the spirit within the body to the science within the substances. He has discovered the true savior, the invisible supreme master, in whom the universe has its being. The soul is lifted to the realization of Divine reality, that the most earnest prayer we can ever utter is the righteous exertion to merit the inspirations that flow into the intellect from the Fountainhead of all Wisdom.” [x]

The wondrous potentials of the soul evidently are realized by the ultimate truth, when the intellect reaches maturity by invisible evidences that bring it face to face with the glorious resplendence of the Almighty. However only through the medium of continuous and constant practice of self-realization can the soul perceive the existence of God in all objects of creation.

“The various objects of this wondrous earth are beacon flags to guide us on to know The Glorious Sun (God) of Life Who gave us birth and sent His Veda the righteous path to show” [xi]

. In distinguishing reasoning from thinking, Atheist George H. Smith in his book A Atheism: The case against God” wrote,

“Thinking I consider to be any type of mental cognitive process. If you’re daydreaming, remembering, any activity like this, you’re said to be thinking. Reasoning, however, is a much more specific term. Reason pertains to a goal-directed mental process which attempts to acquire knowledge. Whenever you set your mind in action, with the intent of arriving at truth, distinguishing truth from falsehood, you are said to be engaged in a process of reasoning.”

“Knowledge is a fundamental value for man because it stands at the root of all of his other values. We must know the facts; we must know something about the world before we can determine anything about what is of value to you in the world. Thus, knowledge is indispensable to our very survival. And it is only through reason, through our power of conceptual thought, that we can apply our knowledge.”

“We are born with the capacity to reason and proper reasoning must be learned and practiced and that even with the proper guidance, it can take years to ingrain proper reasoning habits to the point where they become second-nature.” [xii]

This is all true when it comes to acquiring the truth, but when do we know the complete truth has been realized? George Smith has apparently partially acquired some enough to set him on the path to God. But since it is perceived by a vast majority that man was originally taught, then logics tells me that discoveries of such studies should be made in consultations of the different texts of all past and existing religions. To evade this most logical path to finding the source all creation, is an affront to a higher code of learning stressed by Mr. Smith.

The atheistic progression does not eliminate their goodness in what science has done for mankind. There are rewarded with the opportunity to begin life on the right path to God, depending on individual efforts.

Many of these great souls as Plato, Socrates, Spinoza and more recently Einstein, have made the journey from atheism to pantheism where a God is recognized by Cosmic studies and natural laws.

“As I said before, the most beautiful and most profound religious emotion that we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. And this mystically is the power of all true science. If there is any such concept as a God, it is a subtle spirit, not an image of a man that so many have fixed in their minds. In essence, my religion consists of a humble admiration for this illimitable superior spirit that reveals itself in the slight details that we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds.” [xiii]

Great thinkers and scientists are reincarnations of souls of high Vedic science. The inclinations of the souls are already prepared for this science and are readily developed with ease. Had this not been so, why only a chosen few?

The path to God requires the thinking mind to inquire and investigate. This method of inquiries is called reasoning. It requires a strong commitment and continuous effort to advocate the laws of nature and its connection to science. The atheists unknowingly have found the path to God.

There is a thin line between an atheist and a pure monotheist, should he make that giant step into Vedic philosophy, he can cross that line. This step must be first directed by the studies of these books, "Life and teachings of Swami Dayanand" written by many authors, followed by "The Light of truth" and "An Introduction to The Vedas by Swami Dayanand. This step is the only criterion in advancing to the Right Path.