The connection between Atheism and religion

[Aupmanyav]

Aupmanyav, could you help lift the veil of my ignorance?  How can one be a Hindu and an atheist at the same time?

Sure. I think you have heard the term 'advaita' - non-duality. There are various strains of 'advaita' Hinduism. I follow the strict form of 'advaita' - that means there is just one entity in the universe. That obviously is 'physical energy'. That is what we started with at the time of Big-Bang. So, for one who believes in non-duality, there cannot be a God or Goddess. Hindus denote this single entity which constitutes the universe as 'Brahman'. That is what the lines in my signature say. The second line is very old and from an upanishad. The first line is from Sankara (First Sankaracharya, probably 8th Century), Hindu religious teacher and philosopher who re-established 'advaita' as a major Hindu philosophy. There are various other such lines from other Upanishads also, another famous one being 'Tat twam asi' normally translated as "Thou art that", but one cannot choose all in one's signature.

[Mike Cl]

Sure. I think you have heard the term 'advaita' - non-duality. There are various strains of 'advaita' Hinduism. I follow the strict form of 'advaita' - that means there is just one entity in the universe. That obviously is 'physical energy'. That is what we started with at the time of Big-Bang. So, for one who believes in non-duality, there cannot be a God or Goddess. Hindus denote this single entity which constitutes the universe as 'Brahman'. That is what the lines in my signature say. The second line is very old and from an upanishad. The first line is from Sankara (First Sankaracharya, probably 8th Century), Hindu religious teacher and philosopher who re-established 'advaita' as a major Hindu philosophy. There are various other such lines from other Upanishads also, another famous one being 'Tat twam asi' normally translated as "Thou art that", but one cannot choose all in one's signature.

Thanks for your reply.  So, does physical energy have any intelligence attached to it?  Any idea from whence it came?  Does it provide for an afterlife?

[the_antithesis]

What's with this guy?

He quotes Dave Fucking Barry and that's it?

What is the purpose of this thread except to waste time?

[Aupmanyav]

So, does physical energy have any intelligence attached to it?  Any idea from whence it came?  Does it provide for an afterlife?

I will not term that as intelligence, but it responds, like in the double-slit experiment. At that level, we have many not understood things. Science is at it and we will get the replies as they progress. No idea, again the answer is not available today. Though we may say that it is eternal, it may have arisen from 'absolute nothing'. Who knows if existence and non-existence are related or not as mentioned in the Hindu Creation Hymn in RigVeda?

"Sages who searched with their heart's thought discovered the existent's kinship in the non-existent."
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv10129.htm

Since physical energy (Brahman) is the only entity in the universe, there is no question of death. It has been around for 13.75 billion years and will be there perhaps for even a longer time. If you are talking of the death of an individual, that is only a change of form. The atoms from a dead body get into the environment and participate in infinite lives.

[Givemeareason]

Now I understand that it was at comedy-lounge, but it is utter foolishness; and I think such jokes should not be made. I am a Hindu and a strong atheist. Hindus do consider 'pancha-gavyas' as sacred (milk, curd, butter, cow-urine, cow-dung). Cow-dung, of course, is a useful item with us, either used as fuel or in plastering adobe dwellings. But no God asks us to drink cow-urine. It is a later addition and is sometimes used in re-conversion of people from other religions back to Hinduism, a sort of punishment and acceptance of the fault of moving away from Hinduism. But, then, rules about what one is allowed to say differ from one country to another, many a times leading to unpleasant situations (Charles Hebdo). In India this kind of flaming is not allowed.

I had my beautiful avatara. I do not know why it does not show today. I would try to get it back.

I am the person who made the very post you refer to.  And I am so sorry I did that now and I am so sorry I have offended you.  I am just a bumbling old fool.  Sarcastic humor should not be here.  You are so correct.  Welcome.

[Mike Cl]

I will not term that as intelligence, but it responds, like in the double-slit experiment. At that level, we have many not understood things. Science is at it and we will get the replies as they progress. No idea, again the answer is not available today. Though we may say that it is eternal, it may have arisen from 'absolute nothing'. Who knows if existence and non-existence are related or not as mentioned in the Hindu Creation Hymn in RigVeda?

"Sages who searched with their heart's thought discovered the existent's kinship in the non-existent."
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv10129.htm

Since physical energy (Brahman) is the only entity in the universe, there is no question of death. It has been around for 13.75 billion years and will be there perhaps for even a longer time. If you are talking of the death of an individual, that is only a change of form. The atoms from a dead body get into the environment and participate in infinite lives.

Thanks for your replies.  Have to admit I'm not familiar with those concepts.  Will have to do a little poking around the net.  Thanks.

[Solitary]

Sure. I think you have heard the term 'advaita' - non-duality. There are various strains of 'advaita' Hinduism. I follow the strict form of 'advaita' - that means there is just one entity in the universe. That obviously is 'physical energy'. That is what we started with at the time of Big-Bang. So, for one who believes in non-duality, there cannot be a God or Goddess. Hindus denote this single entity which constitutes the universe as 'Brahman'. That is what the lines in my signature say. The second line is very old and from an upanishad. The first line is from Sankara (First Sankaracharya, probably 8th Century), Hindu religious teacher and philosopher who re-established 'advaita' as a major Hindu philosophy. There are various other such lines from other Upanishads also, another famous one being 'Tat twam asi' normally translated as "Thou art that", but one cannot choose all in one's signature.

I had a girlfriend that based her life on Hindu beliefs and practiced their rituals, and wouldn't even step on a bug. I personally follow the dictates of Buddha's original teachings of Buddhism. We are all composed of energy that transcends death, which goes along with modern physics, but that is our essence, not who we are like Deepak Chopra believes, in my opinion or else.  And someone new here said atheists should accept the religious viewpoints as if there are any we don't. Sarcasm be noted! Solitary

[Aupmanyav]

Sol, Buddha is my guru (I do not consider any Indian religion as different from Hinduism, and Buddha in particular is the ninth avatara of Lord Vishnu for us). Kalama Sutta has always guided me. Is it any different from Occam's Razor? :)

[Solitary]

SmOff I am Kalkin! Don't tell Krishna that I stole Radha from him on my white horse, and that I'm ready to start the golden age.  Solitary

[SkyChief]

This is how atheists need to understand our connection to religion...

I disagree with the premise of the connection between atheism and religion.

All religions require faith in spiritual beings or entities.  Religion requires the 'faithful' to embrace dogma established hundreds, sometimes thousands of years ago, and to ignore scientific and empirical evidence of the workings of the universe. 

Atheism is the rejection of spiritual beings and sky-daddies.  There are no rational reasons for atheists to understand a connection with religion.  Because there are none.   If you feel some connection with religion, then you are certainly NOT atheist. 

I mean,  the whole point of atheism is to disconnect from religion.

[Solitary]

The Judeo-Christian, Islamic religions requires belief and trust in God. Atheism does not believe in, nor trust in God. Where is the connection with faith in God with no reliable evidence, and no faith or belief, nor trust in God? Please explain the connection! We are all human is one, but that isn't a connection between trust and belief in God. The connection between religious belief and atheism is a Non Sequitur in sound logic and reasoning. A connection as to be being human is sound logic and reasoning however, and we should accept religious people that do good, but not those that do great harm with their religious dogma. Is this what you are getting at GMR? Solitary 

[Givemeareason]

Now I understand that it was at comedy-lounge, but it is utter foolishness; and I think such jokes should not be made. I am a Hindu and a strong atheist. Hindus do consider 'pancha-gavyas' as sacred (milk, curd, butter, cow-urine, cow-dung). Cow-dung, of course, is a useful item with us, either used as fuel or in plastering adobe dwellings. But no God asks us to drink cow-urine. It is a later addition and is sometimes used in re-conversion of people from other religions back to Hinduism, a sort of punishment and acceptance of the fault of moving away from Hinduism. But, then, rules about what one is allowed to say differ from one country to another, many a times leading to unpleasant situations (Charles Hebdo). In India this kind of flaming is not allowed.

I had my beautiful avatara. I do not know why it does not show today. I would try to get it back.

You have helped me to realize something about myself.  For many many years I have held what I called an ironic sense of humor.  I have thinking about this since you made this post.  My ironic view is a manifestation of my ego.  And my sense of irony is arrogance.  Since I could not feel empathy with a Hindu I was very cruelly laughing at something which I now see is not funny at all.  I was engaging in cultural racism and not realizing what I was doing.  I need to think more on this but I do so very much hope you can survive here and stay.

[Aupmanyav]

Oh I seem to be doing fairly well here and at other atheist forums. Have been a member for six years now.

SmOff I am Kalkin! Don't tell Krishna that I stole Radha from him on my white horse, and that I'm ready to start the golden age.  Solitary

Radha cannot be stolen. She is part of Krishna, being his power (Shakti). Try stealing light from the sun. Kalki's wife will be Padma, and he will find her in SriLanka.