Atheistic Vs. Theistic World View

(written on September 20, 2019)

Atheist Worldview:

(the atheists most often do not call themselves atheists, they use the euphemism ‘naturalists’ to convey a more positive nature)

1. Where did we come from and why are we here?

Nature was created from nothing and all living entities present today evolved from a single-celled organism. Everything that happens in nature is a purposeless act, as is our existence.

1. Is there something wrong with the world as it is today?

What is wrong with the world today is that people do not respect nature and perform careless acts such as mass factory production, mining, and many other activities which are hazardous to the environment.

1. Can what it is that is wrong with the world be fixed and how?

What is wrong with the world can be fixed through environmentalism, conservation, recycling, and many other ways to conserve energy and reduce our harmful impact on the environment. The naturalists wish to fix nature in order to enjoy and gratify the senses.

Theistic Worldview:

1. Where did we come from and why are we here?

We originally came from the spiritual world to this material world because of the desire to enjoy without the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The material world is actually a correctional facility, so our entire purpose of being here is to rekindle our dormant bhakti for Lord Krishna.

1. Is there something wrong with the world as it is today?

There is something wrong with the world today because all the living entities are illusioned and hence do not know of their eternal constitutional position as the servant of the Lord. The 4 main wrong conceptions of people in this material world:

• They think that they are the body, and not the soul

• They do not accept the existence of God

• They do not know that they are eternal fragmental parts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and their purpose is to serve him

• They think that they are the controllers

Choosing to shun the existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they submit to the vicious cycle of sense gratification (both gross and subtle). Due to this living entities are constantly experiencing temporary happiness and distress and are bound to the karmic reactions of their activities. Due to this, the ignorant living entity has been trapped in the cycle of birth and death for millions and millions of lifetimes.

1. Can what it is that is wrong with the world be fixed and how?

What it is that is wrong can be fixed through the realization of these four points:

• They understand that they are the soul

• They accept that the Supreme Personality of Godhead exists (as Bramhan, Bhagavan, and Paramatma)

• They understand that they are the eternal fragmental parts of the Lord and the purpose of the soul is to serve the Supreme

• They understand that the Lord is the Supreme Controller and they are being maintained by the Lord

Once the living entity is established in this knowledge, under the guidance of his bonafide spiritual master, he can learn how to dovetail everything material into Krishna consciousness and transcend beyond the material modes of nature and attain the highest perfection.