A humanist speaks

My 50 years as an atheist, rationalist and humanist.

LET ME EXPLAIN

• What do these terms mean?

• It is not myself that I am speaking about but millions of silent closet non believers who are not given any media or other coverage.

Why first an atheist?

• I stopped believing in an unknown, supernatural power driving the world at the age of 10 or so.

• Then stopped believing in another major superstition- ‘ass’trology( the second s is intentional not a typo.)

Discarded superstitions

• Growing up makes one question, look for answers and reject false ideas.

• So, many of these were rejected.• Yet there were many unanswered

questions and challenges.

Turning points in my life

• Met A.T.Kovoor, a rationalist from Sri Lanka who was conducting miracle exposure programs in 1976.

• Met B.Premanand in 1981- he was continuing the work after Kovoor.

• How to counter superstitions was the most important question.

The miracle exposure program

• For the common man, the manifestation of the ‘supernatural’ is not the philosophical debate

• It is not a theological question.

• It is what he sees in his neighborhood

which goes in the name of manifestation of so called ‘supernatural powers’.

He was at the top of the miracle mongers hierarchy!

• How did he reach there?

• Promoted by top people including so called intellectuals and scientists.

• Watch this video!

Why he alone?

• He was the old generation ‘miracle monger’.

• Doing things like materialisation of ash, trinkets, shivalingam etc.

• The later generation is cleverer with no such easily exposed gimmicks.

Amma of Kerala• True name Sudhamani.

• Miracles like lighting lamp with water, converting water into milk pudding and such stories.

• Now confined to only hugging people and doing so called social service- running capitation fee colleges, hospitals etc.

The double Mr.

• Another miracle monger who has patented ‘breathing’ and calls it art of living!

• No simple verifiable benefits but vague claims like feels better, improves mental faculties, health improvements etc.

• He insinuates into things- like cancer chemotherapy by claim like tolerated much better after AOL!

The bearded yogi

• Another one with tall claims.

• Cure all processes!

• Tall claims with no evidence at all!• Claims of cheaper more effective therapy

but actually more expensive without any effects.

The superstitions are all pervasive

• The superstition mongers exploit the gullibility of people.

• They make use of placebo effect• They provide simple explanations like

spirit possession for mental illness!

• Watch this video of what happens in villages.

Medical field is fertile for them.

• Quack systems of medicine neither approved nor evidence based!

• Some approved systems without any evidence base like homeopathy.

• When something has a irrefutable dogma it becomes a religion and not a system of medicine.

Astrology- the bane of this nation.

• It makes asses of people.

• System of cold reading and clever half truths!

• Common confusion between astronomy and astrology!

• Of course I am an aquarian and we by the nature of the sign of zodiac under which we are born don’t believe in it!

Even satellites are launched with it!

• For every thing in our life the right time has to be decided by an astrologer.

• Even satellites built with the latest science need clearance from them!

• The stupidity cuts across all barriers!

• It is not just one there are many, many such.

We are a nation of gullible people

• There are innumerable ways of taking us for a ride and

• We are all ready to buy tickets from them paying exorbitant prices.

• We do not question.

• We have been conditioned from the very child hood not to question.

Break those barriers

• Get over the inferiority complex.

• Question every one who claims supernatural powers.

• Ask them to prove under fraud proof conditions.

• Challenge them to make me a pauper!

I have thirteen challenges

• Any one with supernatural powers can take them and take all my worldly assets.

here are a few:• Materialise an object I ask for in 30

seconds from thin air!

• Stand on burning embers for 30 seconds!

• Read the number of a sealed currency note.

And many more.

• Rise from stationary position and stand in air for 30 seconds!

Etc. etc. • All under fraud proof conditions which I

shall specify.

• Any takers? So far I have not had any one.

Take home message

• Question before you believe.

• Ask for evidence before you accept.

• No one had, has or will have any supernatural powers.

• Everything in this universe happens within the frame work of laws of nature some we may know- some we may not know .

Check my web sites

• www.narendranayak.com

• www.nirmukta.com

• You can always send me a friend request on Face Book.

• You can arrange for these demonstrations at you college, your village or city.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH