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Showing posts from August 12, 2009


On Hinduism and Atheism

Hinduism was never uncomfortable with Atheism and in fact it is perhaps the only religion that has accepted a fully developed school of thought supporting atheism. The Carvaka philosophical school rejected the notion of karma, moksha, the authority of the sacred scriptures including the Vedas, and the immortality of the self. The Carvaka School of Thought only recognizes direct perception (anubhava) as the true means of knowledge (pramana). While atheism negates the existence of God, Hinduism sees God in all animate and inanimate. In fact Hinduism sees atheism also as a path to reach the Supreme Knowledge. Prakash Shesh, a management consultant, writes in Times of India Hinduism — the religion of a large majority of Indians — officially accepts that atheists can continue to be Hindus. India has produced many towering personalities who did not believe in God. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, despite his traditional upbringing, was an avowed nonbeliever. The Indian atheist list w