After the Self-Respect Movement began spreading across the country, and especially after it started gaining some influence, we have clearly observed that a certain confusion has arisen among the people. At the same time, Brahmins, along with non-Brahmins who make a living in the name of politics and nationalism, and those who live off religion, mythology, and preaching, have been opposing this movement. They exploit the confusion among the public about God and religion, distort ideas, and spread malicious propaganda.
Because of this, some sincere friends of us seem to be frightened by such propaganda, and even some elders show emotional disturbance regarding religion. Therefore, we feel it necessary to explain our position and our views on God and religion.
We have already spoken and written about these matters many times. However, we believe this explanation may be clearer than previous ones. We request readers to read this carefully and calmly.
This first part is based on what was explained in the concluding speech at the Second Self- Respect Conference in Tirunelveli, and also written at the request of some friends who asked for a clearer explanation.
Our Concern
First, we have repeatedly stated that we have no concern about God or religion in themselves. Our primary concern is to remove the suffering of oppressed people and to break the restrictions on their knowledge, strength, and happiness, thereby enabling their liberation.
It is only because others bring God and religion into the discussion to obstruct our efforts that we are forced to analyze them. Otherwise, we neither had the need nor the desire to engage in these topics.
Similarly, we were compelled to speak about Saivism only because certain Saivite leaders, after failing in other attempts against us, began using religion as a weapon. They incited religious fanatics against us, leading to a situation where religious doctrines and leaders had to be critically examined.
What? How? Why?
Today, anyone who believes in the stories of texts like the Periya Puranam, Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam, Ramayana, and Mahabharata, and worships their heroes as gods, is considered a believer. Others are labeled atheists or traitors to religion.
However, we must examine:
l What is God?
l What is religion?
l How did they originate?
l Were they created with good intentions, bad intentions, or out of ignorance?
l What is the duty of the people regarding them?
Here, we only intend to discuss the idea of a formless, attributeless God and religion as a set of principles created for human welfare. We do not intend to analyze individual religions like Christianity, Islam, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Saivism, Vaishnavism, etc., since they have already faced mutual criticisms and rely ultimately on faith rather than reason.
What is “Power”?
Let us first examine when and how the idea of God arose. God must have been conceptualized only after humans were born and developed the ability to think. Even today, people learn about God only when others teach them. For example, a child learns to worship only after being shown an idol and instructed to do so.
Thus, the idea of God must have arisen during a time when human knowledge and inquiry were still undeveloped.
What is God?
Though called by different names—God, Swami, etc.—the concept generally refers to a power responsible for the creation, functioning, and destruction of the world.
Some may call it “nature” or the combination of the five elements, but still assume that there must be some force behind it. This assumed force is what people call God.
But the real question is: how did this idea arise in the human mind?
Origin of the Idea
Looking at our country, we can understand this through the kinds of “gods” that exist:
Earth, mountains, air, fire, rivers, sun, moon, stars, rain, thunder, lightning, clouds, diseases, and dangerous animals—all have been considered gods. These were regarded as divine because people lacked the ability to understand their true nature.
For example:
l The Himalayas were imagined as Mount Kailash, the abode of God.
l Regions beyond were imagined as heaven or hell.
l Natural phenomena were given divine explanations.
The reason is simple: inability to understand reality led to labeling them as “God” or “divine power.”
Role of Knowledge
Even today, people attribute to God what they cannot explain.
For example:
l Children think a magician’s tricks are divine or magical powers.
l As knowledge grows, we recognize them as skill and technique.
Similarly:
l Solar and lunar eclipses were once explained as mythical events (like a serpent swallowing the sun).
l With astronomy, we now understand their scientific causes.
Likewise:
l Rain, rivers, diseases—all once had divine explanations.
l With scientific knowledge, belief in such gods has declined.
Fear of animals reduced after the invention of weapons.
Thus, as human knowledge and inquiry grow, beliefs in divine causes gradually diminish.
Why Does Belief Still Exist?
Even now, whatever we cannot explain is attributed to God.
However, different people perceive “God” differently based on their level of knowledge and inquiry.
l For some, God explains everything.
l For others, fewer things.
l For the more rational, unknowns are simply “not yet understood” or “nature.”
Still, belief in God persists because:
l It offers comfort to those in suffering or loss.
l It helps people cope with situations beyond their control.
Even knowledgeable people sometimes resort to the idea of God when they cannot find explanations or solutions.
Conclusion
Thus:
l The concept of God arose from ignorance and lack of understanding.
l It continues due to emotional needs and incomplete knowledge.
l As knowledge and inquiry grow, belief in divine explanations diminishes.
l People at different levels of understanding hold different views about God.
Source: ‘Kudi Arasu’ – 16th April 1949
