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I am an atheist(not going in detail about that one), and I heard people say that "Hinduism accepts you no matter what". So that must mean I am a Hindu. Great. But here is the problem (other than being a paradox saying everyone is hindu), Pretty much NOONE accepts me >:). In my family, not hindu, in a temple, not let in. So on WHAT Vishnudamn terms(get it?...) does one say I am "accepted" as a Hindu by hindus unless acceptance means being rejected everywhere??? You are still judging me based on the terms on my belief.

EDIT: If rather I am supposed to be judged based on this, can someone provide me a couple verses from books most hindus agree on? The gheeta?

EDIT 2: This isn't a duplicate as I want a straight forward answer. The other discussion consists of reading through an entire chapter

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marked as duplicate by iammilind, Surya Kanta Bose Chowdhury, user9554, sv., brahma jijnasa Dec 5 '17 at 1:17

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  • Hope I'm not in eternal damnation like christianity though... That would be cruel D: – KidDoesCodingAnd HasNoFriends Dec 4 '17 at 9:53
  • What exactly do you mean by being atheist? You do not believe in god or supernatural phenomena, magic or what?.. – Tejaswee Dec 4 '17 at 10:08
  • I do not believe in (for the most part) any claims hinduism(or most other religions actually) make. Such as, super natural things, god. So pretty much go to hell! in most religions... I disagree with all claims religion makes, which are not of natural things(ie. trees, humans - theyre pretty natural) to sum it up. – KidDoesCodingAnd HasNoFriends Dec 4 '17 at 10:16
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    First of all I don't think you are 100% atheist.. Had you been you wouldn't come in this site asking this question... 😂😂 ... There was a similar person (Prince Payasi) in Buddhas time who had atheist view, you can read his story here: Payasi Sutta read without any hurry with full concenteration... – Tejaswee Dec 4 '17 at 10:21
  • First off, I am a 100% atheist who became one starting with the love of physics, then, see the amount of contradictions and then quickly realized it probably wasn't accurate(my view). Second, I came to this site when I saw a post in my suggestions(no frikin idea why) about the "bhagvat gheeta". I am indian and decided to come here. Then thought I'd ask a question and this is the only one which comes to my mind fastest(the only one...). So yeah, Im an indian and treated like a terrorist because i dont believe in a man sleeping on a snake above the clouds watching you(animal abuse btw) – KidDoesCodingAnd HasNoFriends Dec 4 '17 at 10:27
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Yes, you can be an atheist and a Hindu.

Gita acknowledges the right of a person to reject its teachings.

‘..Reflecting on this entire teaching, do as you think fit.’

Gita 18.63

However, Gita has very low opinion about atheists.

According to them nothing is ultimately real in this world. It is Godless and without any moral basis. Being born of sex union, what else but lust can be said to be its cause?

Gita 16.8

What happens to atheists?

Atheists would remain in Samsara, the cycle of birth and death, and will suffer.

The only way to end of sorrow is to know God. When men shall roll up space as if it were a piece of leather, then will there be an end of sorrow, apart from knowing God.

Svetasvatara Upanishad VI.20

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  • Well I'll suffer anyway I guess :'( – KidDoesCodingAnd HasNoFriends Dec 4 '17 at 13:13
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    You will remain in Samsara with both its pleasures and its sufferings. You will not end up in hell simply because you are an atheist. – Pradip Gangopadhyay Dec 4 '17 at 13:21
  • @KidDoesCodingAnd HasNoFriends Rishis like kashyapa, angirasa, bharadwaja definitely existed, since there are still Hindus with those rishis gotras. So, if they existed, authority of the shrutis as words of god is established. – user9554 Dec 4 '17 at 13:54
  • "According to them..." -- who is they? Carvakas? – sv. Dec 4 '17 at 23:17
  • Those who do not believe in God. They could be Carvakas. Gita 16.8 is a continuation of Gita 16.7 which talks of men of demoniac nature. – Pradip Gangopadhyay Dec 5 '17 at 11:33
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Atheism is an epistemological position while Hinduism is a religious group.

So, can you believe that no gods exist while being a member of a religion? Sure! There is nothing that sais you cannot be a member of a club while believing that this club is BS. Makes me wonder why you'd want to, but you certainly can. Maybe you just like the rituals, like me. I'm a catholic atheist because I was raised that way and I still find it interesting.

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  • "Interesting" try being in a family where they chase you out because of it... Ya, not so good. Atleast my parents are nice... – KidDoesCodingAnd HasNoFriends Dec 5 '17 at 10:11

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