Re: how to defeat the Atheist

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna!

Dear Swamiji, Lowerthanarat, and devotees, please accept my humble obeisances.

Before we defeat the logical arguments of the atheists about the existence and meaning of the Lord we have to understand their arguments. There are many different kinds of atheists and their defeat would be from different angles as they approach the subject matter from different angles. The largest and most dangerous angle is impersonalism in which the personal aspect of the Lord is denied. This is equal to spiritual suicide and all the Acharyas of all the Vaisnava Sampradayas have defeated this concept from every possible angle.

Basically you are asking about those atheists who don�t believe in the existence of God which by the way eliminates their question to the meaning of God. Let us first define what atheism is (Wikipedia):

Atheism, as an explicit position, can be either the affirmation of the nonexistence of gods or the rejection of theism. It is also defined more broadly as synonymous with any form of non-theism including the simple absence of belief in deities. Although atheism is often equated with irreligion, some (so called) religions, such as Jainism and Buddhism, do not require belief in a personal god.

Many self-described atheists are skeptical of all supernatural beings and cite a lack of empirical evidence for the existence of deities. Others argue for atheism on philosophical, social or historical grounds. Although many self-described atheists tend toward secular philosophies such as humanism and naturalism there is no one ideology or set of behaviors to which all atheists adhere.

Now let�s look at their defeat and let us defeat them in their own field of so called logic. If we use logic in our arguments we have to make them understand the nature of �logical absolutes�. Logical absolutes are conceptual by nature and are not dependent on space, time, physical properties, or human nature. They are not the product of the physical universe (space, time, matter) because if the physical universe were to disappear, logical absolutes would still be true. Therefore logical absolutes are not the product of human minds because human minds are subject to the temporary existence. But, since logical absolutes are always true everywhere and not dependent upon human minds, it must be that an absolute transcendent Authority is authoring them. This Authority is called God.

The above argument alone defeats the atheistic concept of the absence of God. However it is so abstract that most atheists don�t get it and that�s ok because it is time they use their minds to awaken. By the way the above argument is false because the mind that is �gifted� CAN understand the logical absolutes by the grace of the Lord. But since we are all under the influence of the marginal energy we can assume that the minds of the atheists are exclusively directed to, and limited by, matter, space and time. So the above logical argument is sufficient to defeat the atheists on their own ground but again: most of them are so anesthetized that they don�t understand that they are defeated to begin with.

The biggest cause and lacking �fire� of the atheists is direct experience. If I define God to be X, and I can experience X, then my logical conclusion is that God exists. It is that simple for the devotees. It is really hard to believe that heat doesn�t exist while having your hand in the fire. So the best way to defeat the atheists is by our own example. Our great happiness is incomparable to their tiny happiness. When you can give them, somehow, a little peak into your heart they will be curious �how you do it� and you can tell them there is a world of color beyond the black and white existence of dry logical argument.

The above is just a general approach. Every kind of atheist, every person needs a different approach and needs to be guided individually to the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga Krishna. In our preaching efforts we can always help each other to do that. Specific situations are more interesting. I am a little afraid that both the above question and answer, will be consumed by our minds while we move on and digest the next mental satisfaction. The reality of Sri Sri Sri Sri Nityananda Gauranga Radha Krishna is so exiting that our hearts can nearly stand still and think about these subjects. We are so absorbed in the eternal kirtan of the Lord, His dance, His beauty and His super attraction, that we just grab the hands of the atheists and push them in the circle of wild dancing devotees. The kartels and the drums and the roar of the Lord will vanquish their so-called logic and turn them all into madmen. Then we ask them to stop dancing and ask: �What was your question again? Shall we go back to the armchair and speculate some more? Or do you want to continue dancing? What will a man who has just fallen in Love with Lord Gaura Krishna say? Gaura Haribol!

Your servant,

Hadai Nityananda dasa

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna!

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