Atheistic Quotes

Having seen a fair bit of many -isms, I can't see Atheism as a single entity - there is a whole range of 'atheisms'. Here are some sample quotations (without the sources and mostly made from memory). Some personal comments follow each quote. And as usual, I prefer to react to individual statements and details thereof rather than take broad ideological positions.

1. The Good: "Most modern Monotheists are much closer to atheists than they like to believe. Monotheists happily deny Baal and the Golden Calf, Ra and Isis, Odin and Thor, Zeus and Poseidon. We atheists just go one God farther!".

- I like this quote, rhetoric and all, and find it quite smart. Wonder why say, "Vishnu and Siva" did not feature there, though!

2. The Bad: "My practice as a scientist is atheistic. That is to say, when I set up an experiment I assume that no god, angel, or devil is going to interfere with its course..."

- too grossly polemical to make any kind of sense! Yes, I remember myself setting up experiments as a student of science - and as a believer; the prayers then were mostly that there were no power failures and other malfunctions, definitely not that the results be doctored by higher or baser powers.

But then, I also know some who think this particular quote captures the very quintessence of scientific spirit, indeed to imply "Science does not recognise any kind of faith as an explanation". Anyways, to each, his creed, atheism included!

3. The ****: "Ah, back from temple,eh? Such a good, God-fearing boy! By the way, did you pray for the souls of atheists like me?"

- aggressively flaunting one's credo, 'otherizing' the other, eh?

4. 'The Honest': "I do not believe in God *and* I am not an atheist."

5. The Ultimate: "In general, I envy believers. I am 90, and am being overcome by illnesses. For believers, it is perhaps easier to deal with them and with life's other hardships. But what can I do? I cannot believe in resurrection after death."

An Invitation...

To those steadfast readers of this blog, their friends, new visitors and their friends and theirs...

The book, 'The God Principle' is an all-new attempt to probe and explain the mysterious connections between Science and the world of the Spirit, held by many to be 'Non-overlapping magisteria'. The author, John Rekesh is someone I am honored to have known (and learned much from) over a long period. A software professional of the highest calibre, he is, equally seriously, a Seeker, in the fullest sense. I happily invite all of you to 'godprinciple.com', where a complete online version of the work may be read. Over to Rekesh!

Something To Celebrate

Well, it has been a while since such a thing happened...

The news is (well, it is not really new news) Pinaki Majumdar of Harish Chandra Institute, Allahabad, has won the Bhatnagar award (India's topmost scientific award, awarded annually in several disciplines a la the Nobel) in Physics.

Actually, he won it in September last; just that I came to know of it only today. Of course, I knew all along he would get it; and over the last few years I have been occasionally googling with "pinaki majumdar bhatnagar". After a gap of a few months, I did so today and (inspite of the long delay in coming to know of it), I am quite thrilled.

Personally speaking, having been in Academia for a while (and in Physics), I could say the following: There are several Physics Bhatnagars who I know very well; and there are several Physics Bhatnagars who I *respect*. The uniqueness of Pinaki is that he is the *only one* who I can list in both these categories (and this uniqueness I guess will be permanent). Anyways, my next glass of strawberry wine will be raised in his honor and wishing him a long and fruitful journey ahead. Cheers!