Written by: Mehran Darg
✿ Foundations of Atheism and Human Freedoms
The philosophy of atheism is based on the notion that no law is final or absolute; rather, it depends on the individual’s discretion whether to accept it or not. In atheistic thought, a person does not consider themselves bound by any universal principles. They are free to represent civility when convenient, or descend into depravity whenever they choose.
❀ The Role of Virtue and Religion
Guru Nanak’s statement,
"Virtue is my religion," reflects that considering virtue solely as a religious term is naïve. Virtue entails honoring every civilized principle, whether viewed from a religious perspective or not. A civilized human adheres to laws guided by moral awareness — such as obeying traffic signals — and faces penalties or punishment for non-compliance.
❀ Religion and Societal Laws
Religion introduces a system of checks and balances within human society, establishing rules to prevent crimes. Crimes like murder, falsehood, adultery, gambling, and fraud are universally condemned across both religious and secular societies.
❀ The Double Standard
It is astonishing that when religion prescribes punishments for these crimes, it is labeled as oppression. Yet, when the same punishments are imposed under civil law, they are regarded as the triumph of justice. For instance, violating a red traffic signal is considered a legal offense, and paying the resulting fine is seen as a justified consequence. However, when religion imposes similar restrictions, it is unfairly termed as tyranny.
❀ Crime and Human Freedoms
When someone commits theft, murder, or rape, society is quick to bring them under the scope of law, and there is satisfaction in seeing the criminal punished. But when the same punishment is administered under religious law, it is conveniently labeled as cruelty.
✿ Conclusion
This double standard indicates that people often target religious principles with unwarranted criticism, despite those very principles being mirrored in secular law. Religion, in accordance with natural human inclinations, provides a well-structured societal system and establishes a check-and-balance framework to curb criminal behavior.
