Category:Becoming an Atheist
Theme Analysis
This analysis explores the psychological and philosophical roots of atheism as diagnosed by Śrīla Prabhupāda. A primary cause for becoming an atheist is "motivated prayer"—approaching God with material demands rather than a desire to serve. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently cites the historical example of Germany during the World Wars, where women prayed fervently for the return of their male relatives. When their prayers were not answered according to their desires, they lost faith entirely. This illustrates the fragility of "transactional religion." Additionally, the analysis touches upon philosophical causes, such as the Māyāvāda philosophy and the offense of equating the Supreme Lord with demigods, which degrades one's spiritual standing to that of a pāṣaṇḍī (atheist).
- The German Example: Religious faith based on material expectation collapses when those expectations are met with frustration.
- God as Order Supplier: Treating God as a servant who must fulfill orders leads to atheism when He acts independently.
- Philosophical Atheism: Equating Kṛṣṇa with demigods (like Lord Śiva or Lord Brahmā) is technically a form of atheism.
- The Slippery Slope: Without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, even those who study Vedānta or perform rituals can slide into atheism due to impersonalism.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: How Motivated Prayers Lead to Becoming an Atheist.
Pages in category "Becoming an Atheist"
The following 29 pages are in this category, out of 29 total.
B
- Because the people became atheist, so Lord Buddha, just to take them under his control, he also collaborated and said, "Yes, there is no God, but you hear me." But he is incarnation of God
- Because they went to the church with some motive and the motive was not fulfilled, they became atheist. Therefore this type of devotion is not pure devotion. Motive... God is not meant for supplying your orders
- Bhrgu Muni said, "It is not due to my cursing that you shall become atheists; you are already situated in the principle of atheism. Therefore you are condemned
I
- If one tries to understand Vedanta philosophy and the Upanisads without studying Srimad-Bhagavatam, one will be bewildered and, construing a different meaning, will gradually become an atheist or an impersonalist
- In Germany during the First World War the women went to church and prayed to God to send their husbands, sons and brothers back safely, but none of them came back. All of the women became atheists
- In Germany, so many women went to pray in the Second World War, "Oh, my husband may come back, my father may come back." But nobody came back. And all of them became atheists. You see
- In the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, by Sanatana Gosvami, it is said that anyone who puts the Supreme Lord and the demigods, including Lord Siva and Lord Brahma, on the same level, at once becomes a pasandi, or atheist
- In the Visnu-mantra it is said that one who considers the Supreme Lord Krsna in the same category with demigods-be they even Brahma or Siva-becomes at once an atheist. BG 1972 purports
- It is a dangerous position of the whole world that they have become all godless or atheists in different degree or manner. It is the duty of saintly persons to save these rascals from ruination
O
- One of my German Godbrothers said that in Germany during the last war, Second World War, many women used to go to the church to pray to God to get back their husband, son or brother. But nobody came back, and they became atheist
- One of my German Godbrothers, he told me in 1935 that in the last world war, many people became atheists
- One who takes a vow to satisfy Lord Siva or who follows such principles will certainly become an atheist and be diverted from transcendental scriptural injunctions
S
- Since people are becoming atheists, they are stopping capital punishment. This is not wise
- Sripada Sankaracarya purposely claimed the jiva-tattva, or living entities, to be equal to the Supreme God. Therefore his entire philosophy is based on a misunderstanding, and it misguides people to become atheists, whose mission in life is unfulfilled
T
- The difficulty is, at the present moment especially, the more one becomes advanced in this material knowledge, he becomes atheist. He becomes disbeliever
- The Manu-samhita prescribes that a man who has committed murder should be hanged and his own life sacrificed in atonement. Previously this system was followed all over the world, but since people are becoming atheists, they are stopping capital punishment
- The purpose of Bhagavad-gita is to surrender to Krsna, or God. But if you are deviating them to become atheists, naradhamah, then what is Bhagavad-gita preaching?
- This (pancopasana) imaginary deity worship has recently been transformed into Mayavada impersonalism. For want of Krsna consciousness, people are victimized by the Mayavada philosophy, and consequently they sometimes become staunch atheists
- This is the way, not whimsically accept any rascal as avatara. No. That is not the process. Or any rascal as God. This rascaldom has killed the whole human society to become atheist. You should be very, very careful of these rascals
W
- When the residents of this earth become atheistic and godless, they descend to the status of animals like dogs and hogs, and thus their only business is to bark among themselves. This is dharmasya glani, deviation from the goal of life
- When there was too much animal-killing and people became almost atheist under the shadow of Vedic rituals, Lord Buddha appeared