Two interesting YouTube videos about "Hindu atheism". The content-creator calls himself Vimoh. In the first, he argues that the term is "neither here nor there". Apparently, many young upper-caste Hindus are calling themselves "atheists" since that´s the cool or edgy thing to do...but the term "atheist" isn´t particularly controversial in an Indian context, since it could simply mean "no belief in a personal god". And some practicing/religious Hindus (of course) don´t believe in such.
In the second video, Vimoh goes further and argues that "Hindu atheism" in India is often a cover for Hindu nationalist opposition to Muslims and Christians. Presumably, the "atheists" in question politically support the Hindu nationalist party BJP and then use atheist arguments to justify attacking Islam and Christianity (minority religions in India).
If Vimoh is right, "Hindu atheism" isn´t an attempt to disentagle "Hindu culture" from "Hindu religion". It´s neither opposed to Hindu religion (per se) nor Hindu nationalism.
Being more radical, Vimoh doesn´t want to call himself a "Hindu atheist", but rather an "Indian atheist". He challenges the "Hindu atheists" to explain whether they reject the Vedic scriptures, gurus and caste. Very often they don´t?! There was a materialist school of thought in ancient Indian philosophy, the Charvakas, but the edgy upper-caste "Hindu atheists" apparently don´t fit that bill.
I´m reminded somewhat of Chinese atheists who apparently very often still believe in the supernatural!
Interesting.
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