Can there be religion for atheists?
Answer Podcast
Can There Be Religion for Atheists?
This question depends on how we define religion and atheists.
In the traditional sense, atheism refers to the rejection of belief in God, while religion, etymologically, comes from the Latin religare, which means “to bind”—usually referring to binding oneself to God through sacred duties, rituals, and practices. In this sense, the idea of a religion for atheists appears contradictory.
However, religion today is often not understood purely in theological terms. It is frequently seen as a system of practices—social, emotional, cultural, and symbolic—that brings people together. Such practices provide meaning, structure, and community through rituals, festivals, shared values, and moral codes.
For a long time, atheists—especially since the time of Friedrich Nietzsche, who declared the “death of God”—have recognized that, even if they reject the existence of God, they cannot ignore the psychological, social, and emotional functions religion has historically served. If there is no rational basis (in their view) for belief in God, why do people continue to believe?
Their answer: because religion meets certain human needs that go beyond reason—needs for meaning, belonging, ritual, comfort, and transcendence. To address these, atheists have attempted to replicate the functions of religion without God.
One notable example is the 19th-century French sociologist Auguste Comte, who proposed the idea of a “Religion of Humanity.” He created secular versions of religious rituals, including festivals to honor notable human beings instead of saints or deities. He even designed “temples of humanity.” Although his movement never gained much traction, the idea persisted.
In more recent times, prominent atheists like Richard Dawkins have proposed ideas like “Ten Commandments for Atheists” or secular moral codes. While these haven’t been widely adopted either, they reflect an ongoing recognition that religion, even without belief in God, might still play a role in shaping human life.
There’s also the modern category of people who identify as “spiritual but not religious.” Even though they reject organized religion or specific theological beliefs, they still pursue transcendent experiences—through meditation, nature, art, or inner reflection. This suggests that the human longing for transcendence is deeper than mere belief in doctrines; it is existential.
So, can there be religion for atheists?
In one sense, yes—if religion is defined broadly as a structured set of practices that address emotional, moral, and communal needs. Atheists can, and have tried to, create such structures.
However, in a deeper sense, religion is ultimately meant to connect us with something beyond ourselves—something transcendent. If atheistic practices deny the very existence of transcendence and offer only symbolic substitutes, then those practices may fulfill some emotional or social functions, but they won’t fulfill our deepest spiritual needs.
Ironically, some atheists become fanatically anti-religious, showing the same kind of rigid dogmatism and intolerance they often criticize in religious extremists. History shows this as well—after the French Revolution, and under various communist regimes, religious people were persecuted in the name of “reason” and “progress.” Thus, atheism too can become an ideology practiced with religious fervor.
Conclusion:
At best, “religion for atheists” may replicate the form of religion—rituals, community, moral codes—but it lacks the substance of religion: connection with the Divine. Unless we connect with that which truly transcends us—Krishna, God, the Absolute Truth—our deepest existential yearning remains unfulfilled.
Therefore, while atheists may attempt to create “religious” systems to meet human needs, true religion requires a genuine connection with transcendence, which can only be achieved through practices rooted in divine revelation and spiritual realization.
Thank you.