Comments on: Are (former) Hindus more likely to be atheists? http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/ Crossing Borders Crossing Cultures Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:09:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Ashutosh http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-11765 Ashutosh Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:19:41 +0000 http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/#comment-11765 Haha...indeed! I guess *that* is pretty much a "must do". Anyway, now that I suddenly realise that I am not a Hindu, I need to disperse my pain in a steak burrito... Haha…indeed! I guess *that* is pretty much a “must do”. Anyway, now that I suddenly realise that I am not a Hindu, I need to disperse my pain in a steak burrito…

]]> By: Patrix http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-11753 Patrix Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:23:27 +0000 http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/#comment-11753 <strong>Ashutosh</strong>, True. But we have done something that would instantly disqualify us from being Hindus at least in the minds of most. Two words. Texas Roadhouse :) Ashutosh, True. But we have done something that would instantly disqualify us from being Hindus at least in the minds of most. Two words. Texas Roadhouse :)

]]> By: Ashutosh http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-11752 Ashutosh Mon, 05 Nov 2007 19:43:19 +0000 http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/#comment-11752 I do think it is easier for Hindus to become atheists because we don't have organised religion like the three monotheistic ones, and we don't have certain "must do's" to call ourselves Hindu. In fact as you probably know, there is even an atheist sect among Hindus! I find this quite fascinating. I do think it is easier for Hindus to become atheists because we don’t have organised religion like the three monotheistic ones, and we don’t have certain “must do’s” to call ourselves Hindu. In fact as you probably know, there is even an atheist sect among Hindus! I find this quite fascinating.

]]> By: Patrix http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-11751 Patrix Mon, 05 Nov 2007 19:28:37 +0000 http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/#comment-11751 <strong>Sthira</strong>, I agree with your statement that most people just like the idea of believing in at least some sort of a God. I guess, it makes me be a part of a large social group or probably even works at letting them believe that their actions are controlled by something other than their own decisions. Some may not like that but a large portion of the population rather be submissive to an external force even if it doesn't really exist. Sthira, I agree with your statement that most people just like the idea of believing in at least some sort of a God. I guess, it makes me be a part of a large social group or probably even works at letting them believe that their actions are controlled by something other than their own decisions. Some may not like that but a large portion of the population rather be submissive to an external force even if it doesn’t really exist.

]]> By: sthira http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-11750 sthira Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:22:41 +0000 http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/#comment-11750 "Are Hindus more likely to be atheists? Is the transition easier than say, from other rigidly-structured religions like Christianity and Islam?" I'd say it also depends on the kind of society you are living in and the way a religion is practised there and the level of tolerance people generally have in that society towards others. In the UK for example, unlike in the US, there has been a long tradition of Christianity and the link between church and state still remains, but in practice, the UK has a predominantly secular society. Only 7% of people in the UK are actually practicing Christians. Infact, it is very seldom that you come across people here who say they believe in God and go to Church! Most people are atheists and since it's a largely liberal state, it hardly matters what the other person is practising unless they or their religious beliefs become a threat to the people or the fabric of their society. It'd be interesting to study what motivates people to convert to another religion. In a lot of places in India, conversion to another religion mainly happened because of socio-economic reasons. And well, most people just like the idea of believing in atleast some sort of a God! “Are Hindus more likely to be atheists? Is the transition easier than say, from other rigidly-structured religions like Christianity and Islam?”

I’d say it also depends on the kind of society you are living in and the way a religion is practised there and the level of tolerance people generally have in that society towards others. In the UK for example, unlike in the US, there has been a long tradition of Christianity and the link between church and state still remains, but in practice, the UK has a predominantly secular society. Only 7% of people in the UK are actually practicing Christians. Infact, it is very seldom that you come across people here who say they believe in God and go to Church! Most people are atheists and since it’s a largely liberal state, it hardly matters what the other person is practising unless they or their religious beliefs become a threat to the people or the fabric of their society.

It’d be interesting to study what motivates people to convert to another religion. In a lot of places in India, conversion to another religion mainly happened because of socio-economic reasons.

And well, most people just like the idea of believing in atleast some sort of a God!

]]> By: Patrix http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-11748 Patrix Sun, 04 Nov 2007 17:55:47 +0000 http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/#comment-11748 <strong>Confused</strong>, True. Not having a fixed set of rules that everyone is expected to follow in order to be called a Hindu certainly helps. So plenty of people who simply do not voice an opinion on their religious views may in fact be atheists but might be considered Hindus by the rest. <strong>Piker</strong>, so the magic of PJs is rubbing off on you too, eh? I don't kill people who come up with smart ones. They just get to be better friends :) Confused, True. Not having a fixed set of rules that everyone is expected to follow in order to be called a Hindu certainly helps. So plenty of people who simply do not voice an opinion on their religious views may in fact be atheists but might be considered Hindus by the rest.

Piker, so the magic of PJs is rubbing off on you too, eh? I don’t kill people who come up with smart ones. They just get to be better friends :)

]]> By: Piker http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-11738 Piker Sun, 04 Nov 2007 00:01:17 +0000 http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/#comment-11738 Hinduism is pretty democratic that way. You could believe in practically anything to be a Hindu. BTW, is your transition to an atheist complete? Or are you still dilly-dallying in agnosticism? :) Confused, a PJ from my side, if Christianity, Judaism and Islam were Abrahamanic religions, wouldn't Hinduism be a Brahmanic religion? *wink wink* Patrix you can kill me when we meet some time. :) Hinduism is pretty democratic that way. You could believe in practically anything to be a Hindu.

BTW, is your transition to an atheist complete? Or are you still dilly-dallying in agnosticism? :)

Confused, a PJ from my side, if Christianity, Judaism and Islam were Abrahamanic religions, wouldn’t Hinduism be a Brahmanic religion?

*wink wink*

Patrix you can kill me when we meet some time. :)

]]> By: confused http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-11737 confused Sat, 03 Nov 2007 22:28:49 +0000 http://www.ipatrix.com/are-former-hindus-more-likely-to-be-atheists/#comment-11737 It's an interesting question. I think Hindus are less likely to covert to other religions because of the lack of a single holy Book in Hinduism. It has made them lazy as far as religious affairs go. I mean, you can do whatever you want to, but unless you active give up your religion, you can remain a Hindu and hell, a good one at that. Hardly the same for Abrahmanic religions. I mean Quran wants to tell you every little thing in the world! Bible is only slightly better mainly because the book Christ (allegedly) wrote was anyway re-written by the Romans. It’s an interesting question. I think Hindus are less likely to covert to other religions because of the lack of a single holy Book in Hinduism. It has made them lazy as far as religious affairs go. I mean, you can do whatever you want to, but unless you active give up your religion, you can remain a Hindu and hell, a good one at that. Hardly the same for Abrahmanic religions. I mean Quran wants to tell you every little thing in the world! Bible is only slightly better mainly because the book Christ (allegedly) wrote was anyway re-written by the Romans.

]]>