Atheism - The Denial of Vedic Authority and the Supreme Person
When people think of atheism, they generally imagine modern scientists or secular philosophers who reject the concept of a higher power. However, the Vedic definition of godlessness is much more profound and far-reaching. Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings carefully dissect the nature of atheism, revealing that it is not merely a lack of belief, but a conscious rejection of standard scriptural authority. Furthermore, he exposes how some of the most dangerous atheistic philosophies are actually disguised as highly elevated spiritual paths.
The Vedic Definition of Atheism
In the Bhagavad-gītā, the Supreme Lord is established as the ultimate goal of all knowledge. Therefore, Śrīla Prabhupāda defines atheism simply as the refusal to accept the authority of the Vedas and the failure to recognize the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead. Anyone who concocts their own religious system or denies the eternal form of Kṛṣṇa is strictly categorized as an atheist.
- One is accepted as atheist who does not believe in the tenets of the Vedas. That is the sum and substance of atheism.
- Atheism means anyone who does not believe in scriptures, standard scriptures. That is called atheism.
- Atheism means defying the authority of the Vedas and decrying the great acaryas who teach Vedic scriptures for the benefit of the people in general.
- To study the Vedas means to come to the conclusion of the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead. Therefore any religious principle which denies the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead is not accepted and is called atheism.
Tragedy of Material Voidism
Modern education heavily promotes the idea that life is merely a chemical combination that ends at death. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this gross, voidistic atheism completely destroys human civilization. By removing the eternal nature of the soul and the concept of an afterlife, people become desperately addicted to temporary sense gratification, resulting in a society of highly educated demons.
- Voidness philosophy has created atheism. Because, just try to understand clearly, I am spiritual being. I want enjoyment. That is my life. I want enjoyment. But as soon as my future is void, I must be inclined to enjoy this material life.
- I have talked with many big, big professors. They are under the impression: atheism, voidism, that after death there is nothing; everything is void, finished. Atheism.
- They (atheist class of men) are very educated. - Mayayapahrta-jnana: "Their knowledge has been taken away by the illusory energy." Why? Asuri-bhavam asritah: - Because they have taken to the philosophy of atheism.
- Because he has taken to the principle of atheism, all these educational qualification, his brain is utilized for doing something harmful to the human society.
Atheism by Divine Arrangement
Vedic history contains fascinating instances where atheism was actually promoted by the Lord Himself or His greatest servants. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Lord Buddha preached atheism to stop animal slaughter, and Lord Śiva (incarnating as Śaṅkarācārya) preached the impersonal Māyāvāda philosophy. Both did so under the direct order of the Supreme Lord to accomplish specific, temporary missions to cheat the demonic class.
- Lord Buddha, for example, was an incarnation, yet he preached atheism: "There is no God." But actually there was a plan behind this, as explained in the Bhagavatam.
- For the atheist class, Lord Buddha preached atheism so that they would follow him and thus be tricked into devotional service to Lord Buddha, or Krsna.
- Actually there is no fault on the part of Sankaracarya. He simply carried out the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He had to imagine some kind of interpretation, and therefore he presented a kind of Vedic literature that is full of atheism.
- In explaining Vedanta I (Siva as Sankaracarya) describe the same Mayavada philosophy in order to mislead the entire population toward atheism by denying the personal form of the Lord.
The Most Dangerous Disguise
While gross materialists and Buddhists are obvious in their rejection of God, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu warned of a much more insidious threat. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the Māyāvādī impersonalists are the most dangerous atheists because they hide behind the authority of the Vedānta-sūtra. By falsely claiming that God is formless and that the living entity can become God, they subtly destroy the path of pure devotional service.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu clearly said that because Mayavadi philosophy is disguised as Vedanta philosophy, it is more dangerous than Buddhism or atheism (sunyavadi).
- Mayavadi philosophy is inferior to Buddhist philosophy, which directly denies Vedic authority. Because it is disguised as Vedanta philosophy, Mayavadi philosophy is more dangerous than Buddhism or atheism.
- They're atheist. More than atheist. They have been described by Caitanya Mahaprabhu as more dangerous than the atheist. They take the shelter of Vedas and preach atheism.
- The desire to merge into the impersonal Brahman is the subtlest type of atheism. As soon as such atheism, disguised in the dress of liberation, is encouraged, one becomes completely unable to traverse the path of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Conclusion
In conclusion, atheism is the root disease of the material world, whether it manifests as gross voidism or the subtle, intellectual pride of impersonalism. Śrīla Prabhupāda makes it abundantly clear that any philosophy that denies the eternal, personal form of Kṛṣṇa and the authority of the Vedas will only lead humanity into darkness and social degradation. The only effective remedy against this pervasive atheistic mentality is the widespread propagation of unalloyed Kṛṣṇa consciousness and the chanting of the holy names.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Atheism. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.