Renowned lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar is known for his outspoken views. He frequently questions ideas and beliefs that people often accept without critical thinking. In a recent interaction, he openly shared his perspectives on religion, faith, atheism, and belief in God.
While he acknowledged that religion and faith can provide emotional support during difficult times in life, his primary question remains: how can finding peace in something serve as proof that the entity is actually real?
'Finding Peace is Not Proof of Truth'
Akhtar stated that many people rely on a higher power during tough times because it offers emotional security, making them feel cared for. However, according to him, this subjective comfort cannot automatically validate a religious belief as absolute truth. While it offers psychological relief, it does not necessarily represent reality.
The Elon Musk Analogy
To illustrate his point further, Akhtar gave the example of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. He noted that if someone firmly convinces themselves that Elon Musk is their brother and they will receive billions of dollars next month, that thought alone could bring them immense happiness and a sense of security.
His argument was that holding onto such a hope might keep a person happy through self-persuasion, but it does not prove that Elon Musk is actually their brother or that any money is coming.
'99 Percent Die in the Religion They Are Born In'
Akhtar also raised questions about whether religious identity is truly a matter of individual choice. He pointed out that most people around the world grow up following the religion of their birth. Based on this, he stated that roughly 99 percent of people die holding the exact same faith they were born into.
He emphasized the importance of examining whether our religious convictions are formed through our own logic and critical thinking or simply inherited from childhood.
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