What I wanted to say is that Hindus do not go against the atheists.
vgane, my point was about this Pope calling on the atheists to join with the faithful to address the world's problems. You are saying Hinduism is better than Islam when it comes to tolerating atheists. While your claim is completely irrelevant, don't you think salafist islam is a very low bar to compare yourself with? There are many historical and political reasons for the islamic extremism. It must be opposed no doubt. But these are not representative of Islam today or historically. Case in point is Omar Khayam, who is celebrated in islamic Iran who penned some deeply irreligious verses.
Coming back to your comments, I thank you for taking back the word "
embrace" that is good, because, once Brahminism became dominant, atheism of all types was mercilessly crushed. Take for instance Buddism, an atheistic religion, it is almost non-existent in the land of its inception. Dhivya Prabhandam has choice epithets about other religions. புத்தம் and சமணம் are supposed to be புலையறம், and if they try to argue with you then their தலையை அறுப்பதே கருமம்.
Another one, சமணர், சாக்கியப்பேய், தாழ்சடையோன் சொற்கற்ற சோம்பர், சூனிய வாதர் all these are நீசர் and all of them perished after the appearance of Ramanuja -- Ramanuja is supposed to have put thousands of Jains into the grinder in present day Karnataka.
I know Saiva literature is also filled with such hatred for other religions including atheistic religions like Bowtham and Samanam.
Let me make one thing clear, I am not saying all these are to be taken to be literally true. The point is, taken figuratively, it is clear that even your watered down statement "Hindus do not go against the atheists" is untrue, historically. It is untrue even today as well, Arvind Kejriwal had to backtrack on his self declared atheism.
Your statement is somewhat true in the public sphere today, especially in Tamil Nadu, but it does not amount to "Hindus do not go against the atheists". The hatred for atheism among Brahmins (I don't know about NB, that is why I am commenting only about B's) is just as virulent as it has always been. You have yourself observed I am reviled here for my atheism.
One more angle:
Historically, Christians have been no slouches when it came to hatred against atheists. So, for a Pope to invite atheists to join with them is a big deal. Since you want to point out, erroneously as I have argued, that Hindus are not against atheists, let me suggest a revolutionary public statement one or all of the Shankarachariyars can make that would be equal in significance as that of Pope's invitation to atheists. Brahminism has been impeccable in its hatred of avarnas. Even the much vaunted Jnana Khandam says things like evil people will take evil birth like a dog, or a pig, or a Chandala. So, let a Shankarachariyar make a public statement and invite Chandalas to come and join with the Brahmins and do whatever they think is a good deed for humanity. That would be something to celebrate and I would be among the first one.
It is okay to disagree with others all the time, but there is a polite way to do it.
