The renowned writer and poet Javed Akhtar is known for his candid opinions, as he often questions assertions that people accept without deep reflection. Recently, in a conversation, he openly spoke about religion, faith, and atheism.
He acknowledged that in difficult moments of life, religion and faith can provide support to a person. However, he questions: how can one consider proof of truth something that brings a person a sense of peace?
According to Javed Akhtar, many people rely on some higher power or God during challenging periods because it gives them emotional support. They feel that someone is watching over them. Nevertheless, in his view, such trust alone is not enough to consider religious belief as truth. He believes it may provide psychological relief, but that does not necessarily mean it corresponds to reality.
To illustrate his point, Javed Akhtar cited the famous businessman Elon Musk. He suggested that if a person sincerely believed that Elon Musk was their brother and that they would soon receive billions of dollars, it could bring them feelings of joy and security. His argument was that if a person constantly repeats to themselves that money will come next month, and then the month after, they might remain happy due to this hope. But this does not prove that Elon Musk is actually their brother or that the money will arrive.
Javed Akhtar also raised the question of whether religion is truly the choice of the majority of people. He noted that in the world, most people grow up adhering to the religion in which they were born. Based on this observation, he stated that about 99 percent of people die in the religion in which they were born. He emphasized that under such circumstances, it is important to consider whether our religious beliefs are based on our own logical reasoning or if they were acquired in childhood.
Javed Akhtar also stated that we cannot take a person's words as truth just because we trust that person. In his opinion, a person can change their mind over time. Therefore, one should evaluate the ideas, not the person. He clarified that his perspective is different: he trusts the idea, logic, and reason, not the personality. What is said is more important than who says it.
Regarding religious beliefs, Javed Akhtar added another point. In his view, all world religions cannot be called the same just because they all speak of becoming better. He noted that there are many major religions in the world, and their beliefs and views differ from each other. Consequently, the assertion that all religions say exactly the same thing is false.
Javed Akhtar has long expressed his views on topics such as religion, logic, and faith. Throughout his career spanning over fifty years, he has gifted Hindi cinema and literature with numerous memorable stories, characters, and songs. Nevertheless, his views on religion and faith often become subjects of discussion and debate.