God, or he, or the learned people of that society? This is a phenomenon of nature. It is a clear reflection of his thoughts. Down with Him! It was then re-translated from Tamil to English, and some websites still carry the re-translated English version of this essay".[11]. In May 1927, I was arrested in Lahore. Society must fight against this belief in God as it fought against idol worship and other narrow conceptions of religion. Since I’m not merely a non-theist, I will focus my discussion to why I’m an atheist in the stronger, belief-implying sense. It is, however, important to remember that nothing in these general descriptions is necessarily common to all atheists , and even when atheists do share characteristics, it cannot be assumed that they are shared to the same degree. I was never a hardworking or studious boy. The first leader I met had not the courage to openly declare himself an atheist. They told me that I was in Lucknow during the Kakori Party Trial so that I might devise a scheme to rescue the culprits. Just wow. It was not an easy task to face that ordeal. His ignorance, his poverty, and the contempt he receives from others will harden his heart towards society. I was completely innocent, but I believed that the police had sufficient power to do it if they desired it to be so. I studied Bakunin, the anarchist leader. That’s foolish. How many of them have you met who were donkeys in their previous births for having committed any sin? Some texts were edited to correct minor typographical errors and aesthetic concerns. They jeered at us. Charles Darwin has tried to throw some light on this subject. As Mahatmaji is great, he is above criticism; as he has risen above, all that he says in the field of politics, religion, Ethics is right. It was all humbug. Yes, it is true to some extent. The translation was proofread by Andy Blunden and Mike Bessler. This problem has been explained in a satisfactory manner by biologists as a mere biological phenomenon. For the sake of argument we agree for a moment that a person committed some crime in his previous birth and God punished him by changing his shape into a cow, cat, tree, or any other animal. Why I Am an Atheist. An Atheist knows that a hospital should be built instead of a church. His selfish interests have made him incapable of seeing the truth. Yes, poverty is a sin; it is a punishment! One day, Mr. Newman, the then senior Superintendent of CID, came to me. The whole post describes why I am not an atheist, therefore the label, whatever it implies to you, is inappropriate and ultimately, offensive. Yes, I come to this question. he wrote four books and a pamphlet in jail. Perhaps it was the writer Upton Sinclair who wrote (Bhagat Singh is referring to Sinclair’s pamphlet ‘Profits of Religion’ – MIA transcriber) somewhere “only make a man firm believer in the immortality of soul, then rob him of all that he possesses. Why I Became an Atheist, gives more than the reasons John Loftus became an atheist. This is our philosophy. I am known as a dictator among my friends. Of … Well, well, how far will you justify a man who first of all inflicts injuries on your body and then applies soft and soothing ointment on them? I want to answer my second question by giving reasons to believe there are no gods. Those who are well versed in the philosophy of Jurisprudence relate three of four justifications for the punishment that is to be inflicted upon a wrong-doer. All right. Leave such a fellow alone for he cannot realise the depth, the emotions, the sentiment and the noble feelings that surge in that heart. Do you really know the most cursed sin in this world is to be poor? The same day some police officers persuaded me to offer my prayers to God two times regularly. Till that time I was only a romantic revolutionary, just a follower of our leaders. The so called theory of ‘Puranas’ (transmigration) is nothing but a fairy-tale. I grew up in a Christian home and regularly attended worship services. Why so? This question has come before the people for the first time, hence the necessity and usefulness of such long discussions. Things didn't go well from that point forward. But he also never dared to deny the existence of God. I could not act otherwise. My dear friends, these theories have been coined by the privileged classes. You are silent. The Facebook page of this site. It is easy to understand but how is it possible that a believer can turn into a non-believer because of his vanity? To him I say either he is foolish or wicked. Its reason is mental insipidity. (Bhagat Singh is referring to Sinclair’s pamphlet ‘Profits of Religion’ – MIA transcriber), transcription We do not take a leap forward; we go many steps back. According to the prosecution, the ‘Revolutionary Leaflet’ which was distributed throughout India was the outcome of Sachindara Nath Sanyal’s intellectual labour. HTML/Proofread: Juan Fajardo, for marxists.org, Sept. 2020. Language: English (Original language Punjabi) Publisher: The People (Lala Lajpat Rai’s English Weekly) ISBN: 1983124823. It cannot be called empty pride. What I want to point out is that the idea of denying the existence of God did not even occur to the Revolutionary Party. Toggle navigation. In the essay, Bhagat Singh discussed his atheism, which did not come because of his vanity. The Facebook page of this site. The Facebook page of this site. What it meant will be discussed in the following lines. He attempts to discredit every area of the Bible and Christian belief. Tags. I’m very grateful and honored to have been brought here to discuss/debate these issues. In difficult times, vanity, if it remains, evaporates and man cannot find the courage to defy beliefs held in common esteem by the people. It aims at reforming the culprit and converting him into a peace-loving citizen. Let the Almighty step in and arrange things in a proper way. [9], After the death of Singh, the essay was published on 27 September 1931 in Lala Lajpat Rai's English weekly The People. How can you support his doings which surpass those of Genghis Khan in cruelty and in misery inflicted upon people? Loftus' story is a sad one of immorality and rejection. translation into other Indian languages. As a result of some discussions with my friends, (if my claim to friendship is not uncalled for) I have realised that after having known me for a little time only, some of them have reached a kind of hasty conclusion about me that my atheism is my foolishness and that it is the outcome of my vanity. The original edition of this book was published in 2006 and reissued in 2008. They offered to release me on condition that I gave a statement on the activities of the Revolutionary Party. Other members of the animal kingdom have the ability to communicate, through vocal noises or by other means, but the most important single feature characterizing human language (that is, every individual language), against every known mode of animal communication, is its infinite productivity and creativity. Written: October 5–6, 1930 All of them were atheists. But it is man’s duty to try and make efforts. I have extreme difficulty reconciling any kind of omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent deity with cruelty and suffering. Editorial Note: "Why I am an Atheist" was Let them see all this and say “All is well in God’s Kingdom.” Why so? If, as you believe there is an Almighty, Omnipresent, Omniscient God, who created the earth or universe, please let me know, first of all, as to why he created this world. Website: – Appreciations Received: – Glimpse: “Why I am an Atheist” – I bought this book a long time back but did not have the motivation to read it though. When I told her, she slammed on her breaks, turned to me with her characteristically bulging rage-face, and said, "Don't you ever say that in front of me again." There are palaces of kings built upon the foundations laid with human bones. Then I joined the Revolutionary Party. This is not constructive thinking. They didn't drill atheism in my head, they just rarely ever talked about religion. Edit 4: Another point of contention in the post seems to be confusion about what I mean when I say, "I'm not asking why you are not religious, I'm asking why you are atheist." us permission to use their transcription. I wish to put my ideas before you. Let us analyse how much this argument carries weight! British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking schmoozed with popes during his lifetime, even though he was an avowed atheist. Did it not occur to your All Knowing God or he could learn the truth only after millions had undergone untold sufferings and hardships? I totally reject the existence of an Omnipresent, all powerful, all knowing God. (In Sept. 2020 MIA was provided with images of the original publication in We can use the word ‘vainglory’ for it. This is a list of atheist activists and educators.Living persons in this list are people whose atheism is relevant to their notable activities or public life, and who have publicly identified themselves as atheists. By what names do we remember him? When informed of my atheism, he said, “When your last days come, you will begin to believe.” I said, “No, dear sir, Never shall it happen. But evangelical Christianity rejected doesn't imply atheism; in my case, non-Christian theist to deist to agnostic to atheist took from April until October. Why I Became an Atheist, gives more than the reasons John Loftus became an atheist. It never occurred to me that sometime in the future I would be involved in polemics of this kind. Charwak is yet another independent thinker of the past ages. I do not boast of being above these human follies. Start This article has been rated as Start-Class on the project's quality scale. Any person who claims to be a realist has to challenge the truth of old beliefs. Why I am an Atheist is an essay written by Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in 1930 in Lahore Central Jail. How far the supporters and organizers of Gladiator bouts were justified in throwing men before half starved lions, later to be cared for and looked after well if they escaped this horrible death. First of all we all know what the judgement will be. Then came the time to shoulder the whole responsibility. [2] As a reply to Randhir Singh, he wrote this essay on 5 and 6 October 1930. Simpson. It comes as no surprise to me that people generally believe what they were raised to believe. Open your eyes and see millions of people dying of hunger in slums and huts dirtier than the grim dungeons of prisons; just see the labourers patiently or say apathetically while the rich vampires suck their blood; bring to mind the wastage of human energy that will make a man with a little common sense shiver in horror. You want to argue the practicability of Socialist theory, I leave it to your Almighty God to enforce it. 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