How did a Hindu became an atheist.

wil said:
I was born that way...then my parents tried to make me a theist, specifically a Christian....they really didn't care what denomination.

Over time (like first grade) I started to question, by third or fourth grade the Sunday school teachers had enough of me and I had enough of them. My parents agreed. My mother and sisters continued to go, my father and I stayed home and puttered in the garden or garage.
Click to expand...
All the credit to your father.
 
Aupmanyav said:
All the credit to your father.
Click to expand...
He left the church when he asked the preacher for a Q&A after the sermon...

The preacher said "you can come in my office any time and ask questions", my dad responded.. I don't wanna ask you questions in your office, I wanna ask in front of the congregation, I wanna hear their questions, I want everyone to see your responses.

I went to a unitarian church where the lay speakers got 20 minutes for the sermon, and had to stand for 20 min or qna.

When I found unity my preacher agreed to once a month anyone whobwanted extended service and questions could stay after for "Ask the Preacher" first month there were 10 of us...after a few months it was half the congregation and lasted 90 minutes long...half the congregation stayed for and extra 90 minutes!

To me that was powerful and useful for both he (the preacher) and us.

And yeah...one mark for dad !
 
Aupmanyav said:
I have found the label for my Hinduism. It is 'Nasadiya Advaita'.
I go by three lines of the Nasadiya Sukta of RigVeda
Click to expand...
Does the concept of karma figure into your belief system? If so, what form does it take?

(I don't know if I already asked this question in another form, but I'm really curious about karma and the doctrines, theology, philosophy, or general layperson thinking around the topic.)
 
TheLightWithin said:
Does the concept of karma figure into your belief system? If so, what form does it take?

(I don't know if I already asked this question in another form, but I'm really curious about karma and the doctrines, theology, philosophy, or general layperson thinking around the topic.)
Click to expand...
Yes, I do accept 'karma', i.e., you may have to pay for your actions if you are caught*. I do not believe that a God judges souls for the person's actions. I neither believe in God/Gods/Goddesses, or in soul, heaven and hell; nor in rebirth (neither of the Hindu kind - physical afterlife, nor of the Abrahamic kind - non-physical afterlife, these are just imaginary manufactures). You live just once.
* If one is caught by law or society. If not, then one escapes punishment (escapades of people). ;)

All that exists in the universe is made up of energy, whether material, dark matter or dark energy.
 
Aupmanyav said:
Yes, I do accept 'karma', i.e., you may have to pay for your actions if you are caught*.

* If one is caught by law or society. If not, then one escapes punishment (escapades of people). ;)
Click to expand...
What you describe is not karma. There is no definition karma that qualifies consequence with "if you are caught."
 
SalixIncendium said:
What you describe is not karma. There is no definition karma that qualifies consequence with "if you are caught."
Click to expand...
Why do you say that there is no definition of 'karma'. "Actions". As simple as that.

"Karma (Skt, Hindi, Pali: kamma) is an ancient Indian concept that refers to an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences." - Wikipedia

Were you thinking about 'Korma'? ''Korma' is a South Asian dish consisting of meat or vegetables braised with yogurt, water or stock, and spices to produce a thick sauce or gravy.' (Wikipedia again) :)
 
TheLightWithin said:
(I don't know if I already asked this question in another form, but I'm really curious about karma and the doctrines, theology, philosophy, or general layperson thinking around the topic.)
Click to expand...
fodder for another thread? I would also like to learn more from those that believe in it.
Aupmanyav said:
, I do accept 'karma', i.e., you may have to pay for your actions if you are caught*. I
Click to expand...
This I find interesting. I had it described once as every action you make sets a pendulum in motion...this depending on the action could be the beneficial pendelum...which when it swings back thru can bless you based on past actions/thoughts. Or if you do negative in someway...you send out the detrimental pendelum...which could ome back like a wrecking ball (depending on how many times you have pushed it). But, like Christianity and forgiveness of sins, confession, remorse, pennants, performing good deeds could mean when that pendulum swings back thru...it misses you.
SalixIncendium said:
There is no definition karma that qualifies consequence with "if you are caught."
Click to expand...
I'd like to hear your definition should you believe in Karma.
Aupmanyav said:
Were you thinking about 'Korma'?
Click to expand...
While I found that hilarious I also found it deleterious to discussion and question the thinking of one who believes in karma....ie...you been caught.
 
Aupmanyav said:
Why do you say that there is no definition of 'karma'. "Actions". As simple as that.

"Karma (Skt, Hindi, Pali: kamma) is an ancient Indian concept that refers to an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences." - Wikipedia
Click to expand...
Correct. No qualifier in there stating "if you are caught."

Aupmanyav said:
Were you thinking about 'Korma'? ''Korma' is a South Asian dish consisting of meat or vegetables braised with yogurt, water or stock, and spices to produce a thick sauce or gravy.' (Wikipedia again) :)
Click to expand...
That must have been it. It's around lunchtime here and I'm getting a bit hungry. 😝
 
wil said:
I'd like to hear your definition should you believe in Karma.
Click to expand...
The definition @Aupmanyav posted is accurate. Karma is, in it's simplest definition, causality.

The point I was making is "if you are caught" is not a qualification of karma. Every action has effect and/or consequence, good or bad. Whether or not one is caught has nothing to do with karma.
 
SalixIncendium said:
The definition @Aupmanyav posted is accurate. Karma is, in it's simplest definition, causality.

The point I was making is "if you are caught" is not a qualification of karma. Every action has effect and/or consequence, good or bad. Whether or not one is caught has nothing to do with karma.
Click to expand...
The point you were making was obvious...what you believe about karma I still do not know. I only know what you express not to believe...which ain't helpful.
 
wil said:
The point you were making was obvious...what you believe about karma I still do not know. I only know what you express not to believe...which ain't helpful.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for. I expressed that karma is causality...cause/effect...and that every action has consequence. I'm sorry you did not find that helpful. What else, specifically, are you looking for?
 
wil said:
While I found that hilarious I also found it deleterious to discussion and question the thinking of one who believes in karma....ie...you been caught.
Click to expand...
Why? I am an atheist, so holidays do not bother me (they do bother my family and I do not get non-veg. on those days. By tradition, Kashmiri brahmins are non-vegetarians. But after moving out of Kashmir, our views have been influenced by Vaishnavism. Actually, I do not get non-veg. for a whole of Hindu month of Shravana, Shiva's month. Though Shiva does not mind non-veg. Kashmiri brahmins by tradition used to offer mutton/lamb 'Roghanjosh' to Lord Shiva on Shivartri (sort of best that we can think of, Abel's first born).
 
SalixIncendium said:
Whether or not one is caught has nothing to do with karma.
Click to expand...
It makes a difference. To a theist, God sees it all and will take care of it. For an atheist there is no God to catch him/her, it is either the machinery of law or of society which will punish him/her 'if he/she is caught'. However, I believe most atheist follow the rules of law and society.
rocala said:
Yes Salix, I agree. However "getting caught" may be the result of Karma.
Click to expand...
Of course, getting caught is result of bad Karma. If no bad deed, no one will search for that person.
SalixIncendium said:
Of course, but because one doesn't get caught in no way means one has escaped the effect of karma.
Click to expand...
True. Bad deeds may affect the person psychologically and the person may suffer by their remembrance of the bad deed.
 
Last edited:
Aupmanyav said:
It makes a difference. To a theist, God sees it all and will take care of it. For an atheist there is no God to catch him/her, it is either the machinery of law or of society which will punish him/her 'if he/she is caught'. However, I believe most atheist follow the rules of law and society.

Of course, getting caught is result of bad Karma. If no bad deed, no one will search for that person.
Click to expand...
As neither an atheist nor a theist, I have no "God" to hold me accountable for my actions. However, I have no way of not getting caught by myself, and it's me (not the person, but my true nature) that determines the karmic consequence of my actions.

Also, the "if one is caught" implies that karma is subject only to inauspicious actions. I doubt one would be punished for performing auspicious action.
 
SalixIncendium said:
Also, the "if one is caught" implies that karma is subject only to inauspicious actions. I doubt one would be punished for performing auspicious action.
Click to expand...
Right. Good actions will be remembered, admired by the family, by the society, and sometimes by many other people.
Think of Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr. Whether there is a God or not is immaterial.
 
SalixIncendium said:
However, I have no way of not getting caught by myself, and it's me (not the person, but my true nature) that determines the karmic consequence of my actions.
Click to expand...
It depends on one's 'Samskaras' (innate goodness or badness, true nature).
'Samskara' is upbringing, influence of one's beliefs (religion), education and life experiences. It is an emergent property.
'Samskaras' are what catch us first, even while we are thinking of or doing a bad deed. We cannot hide from our own selves, God or no God.
That is why 'Samskaras' are considered every important in Hinduism.
For a marriage, Hindus look for the 'Samskaras' (sort of record) of the family.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top