Can A Hindu Embrace Atheism? Exploring Religious Identity

Swami Vivekananda provides an insightful perspective on atheism within the context of Hinduism. While some religions categorize individuals who do not believe in a Personal God external to themselves as atheists, the Vedanta school of Hindu thought takes a different approach. According to the Vedanta philosophy, a person who lacks belief in their own inner self is considered an atheist. This viewpoint underscores the significance of self-awareness and self-realization within Hinduism, emphasizing that recognizing one’s own inner divinity is as crucial as acknowledging external deities. This perspective offers a unique perspective on atheism within the framework of Hindu beliefs, highlighting the importance of self-belief. (Note: The date “20 thg 10, 2022” does not seem relevant to the topic and has been omitted.)

Hinduism, with a staggering 1.2–1.35 billion followers, representing approximately 15–16% of the global population, ranks as the world’s third-largest religion. It is often regarded as the world’s oldest continuously practiced religion, although there is some ongoing debate regarding its historical origins. The term used to identify adherents of Hinduism is “Hindus.”