Is Atheism the new cool trend?

With modernization, scientific discoveries and higher standards of living, people are moving away from the concepts of community and traditions. Questioning beliefs and seeking individual identity have become an integral part of how evolved we are as humans and the stage of self-actualization we have attained. Religion, these days, is considered outdated and foolish, yet it holds the power to instigate riots and angst, to bind communities together and even influence politics and democracy.

This does not help its case, for this misuse of religion and faith fuels the anger among the current generation and turns people away from everything it stands for.

We limit religion to mere existence of god and idols, atheism is considered to be the RIGHT way and the others are considered to be stupid for there is no God and it is humans who have created this supernatural being to justify the scientific marvels this universe holds.

Is that it, though? Is this all there is to religion and faith, the ideologies that can drive the most educated man insane and pick up the gun or run around with torches in a hand? What did Steve Jobs, a revolutionary, see when he adopted Buddhism?

Religion now, is beyond the existence of god, it always has been. It is about communities, family and traditions. It is about sharing memories with those whom you can turn to at your lowest, about learning from mythological stories, adopting morals and and calmness in your soul.

A friend told me, why would one talk to an idol? why not believe in spirituality? Which sounds like nothing but sheer hypocrisy to me. Temples give one a chance to vent, to complain as selfishly as possible. It's an imaginary entity one expresses their emotions to. Now, don't come at me saying I am defending believers yet I say god is an imaginary entity.

Spirituality is again a different pathway to the same goal as that of faith, which is enlightenment or self-actualization. It's shameful when one atheist despises religion for imposing their ideologies on others yet shames anyone who has different opinions than them.

Though, who am I to speak for believers when most of them do not even understand the importance of their culture, traditions and practices, and when they can't even abide by the dogma of their faith and are ready to forget all their values for "protecting" their God. All I know is, we are moving away from the idea of communities and families, to a nuclear independent environment, where we will have maximum responsibilities and a mirage of freedom.

On that note, Happy Ganesh Chaturti!!

Goodnight!