DrBarani - I was traveling for a few days and was surprised that old elements are in full form propagating their tired old self-loathing messages again! I thought that you and Suraju06 have responded very well.
Let me share my surprise when I first tried to visit many of the threads after becoming a member here. I found people like Nara and Sangom making significant and detailed comments on threads relating to rituals, sloka recitation and offer 'expert opinion' on such details. I realized what they are sharing is what they had learnt as 'blah blah' all their life. They cannot stop going to those threads and offer 'expert opinions'
Shri tks sir,
Though your above post is addressed to Dr. Barani, since you have referred to me by my handle, I feel it will be in order for me to give my comments thereon.
I have devoted a good amount of time in studying the Hindu scriptures and have been (and still am) pondering about the reality or otherwise of the God/ Brahman concept enshrined in the Hindu psyche. At this age of 70+ I have come to the conclusion that we humans do not have any knowledge in the scientific sense of the term about the existence of a God (or myriads of Gods) or the opposite of it and that the primary need for humanity is to become better human beings first and then possibly to search for that unknown, uncomprehended entity called God. I also firmly believe that faith in God is not a necessary precondition for one to become a better human being, and also that such faith ensures that the person will be a better sample out of the lot.
Because I have had the chance to be born and brought up in a vaideeki home and did learn and know some things about the rituals, sloka recitation, etc., I do respond to posts seeking clarification in those areas.
If you and other members feel that I have no locus standi in such topics because I do not subscribe to theistic views, I will only be too contented to refrain in future from such comments. So far I was considering it as only like an elderly person trying to elucidate a simple arithmetical problem to a child by himself reciting the multiplication table for the benefit of the child, though the elderly person will have dispensed with reciting the multiplication table for the various transactions in his everyday life; hence the transgression which you point out. But you being a theist should, in all fairness, consider also the Rigvedic verse "ā no bhadrāḥ kratavo yantu viśvataḥ".
Yet their postings in my judgement lack most basic understanding of Upanishads and this conclusion is based on my interaction with them in this forum over many threads. Often their responses to questions reveal total lack of understanding and therefore I do not take their analysis seriously.
Thank you and I will be very grateful if you can recommend the books/web resources which, in your esteemed opinion, give the correct understanding. I will definitely try to learn more.
Some of the recent posts here reflect in my view an enormous anger at the world disguised towards Brahminism in my view.
The best suggestion I will have for them is to truly give up all rituals and all symbols of Brhaminism and try to understand why they feel a need to comment on retualistic details.
Let us hope that this forum provides a therapy for them to vent their anger through their self loathing posts.
It will not be correct, in my humble opinion, to make such character/attitude judgements without even knowing the other person, or even seeing him. But for the theist who can make so much of judgements about God Himself without having knwon, seen or moved with, HIM, this will be a very small job, perhaps and very much ethical too
Your suggestion that the atheists (and agnostics, and all those who do not subscribe to the views of the theists in this forum) should "truly give up all rituals and all symbols of Brhaminism" is well taken. FYI I already comply with that.
As to "feeling a need to comment on retualistic details", I hope I have already clarified above; it is not "feeling a need" but trying to disseminate what we know and what someone else is looking for. What you suggest is like a non-Chennai fellow who has good knowledge of Chennai but dislikes it, being barred from clarifying if someone asks for directions in Chennai.
Most such anger may have origins in not getting along with their father while being raised in a very strict ritualistic life style. I am not sure if this applies to the posters here but have seen this to be true of some people I know.
Regards
I was not raised in very strict ritualistic surroundings though my family elders were orthodox. I too was an ordinary theistic brahmin like many of you; it is only deeper study of our scriptures and a basic inability to accept or be convinced by all that the scriptures say, which has made me an agnostic in the last ten years roughly.
I sincerely feel that people subscribe to the theist pov because they do not have adequate knowledge of the scriptures and are not bold enough to ponder over the irrationalities in religion. Basically even a theistic, and certified, Brahmin will not be prepared to believe in God beyond certain level and will use his rational intellect only. That was why I referred to a certified brahmin being willing to be tied to a rock and dropped into the sea. One member replied saying that there was one great bhakta who is reported to have said that even if he were so dealt with, his tongue will go on reciting நாதன் நாம நமச்சிவாய. But eventually the devotee was drowned as per Kamal Hassan's movie! It is the same thing with any theist when his reason tells him that it is foolish to believe that God will come to his help; hence it is reason which triumphs over religious faith ultimately.
I know of two cases of malignant liver cancer (one was a vaadhyaar, the other a rikshaw wallah of Chennai). Both got completely out of sorts when the unpleasant news somehow dawned on them that there was no cure and their days are counted. They started behaving like mad persons till they lapsed into the characteristic semi-coma stage. Faith in God did not help both even in preserving the balance of mind.
to find god 
