Religion Without God | UPSC CSE Philosophy Optional

Religion Without God

The lecture examines whether religion must include belief in a conventional or personal God. Its central argument is that religion may be possible without such a God if it has three essential components: cognitive, emotional, and functional. Buddhism and Jainism are presented as examples of traditions that do not rely on a creator God but can still satisfy these conditions.

Three Components of Religion

1. Cognitive component: In the lecture’s initial formulation, this means having knowledge of God. Religious knowledge may come from reason, revelation, or faith. The lecturer broadens the idea: the object of religious knowledge need not be a conventional God; it may be the tradition’s highest spiritual reality or goal.
2. Emotional component: Religion involves an emotional relationship with, or commitment to, its highest spiritual ideal. This may include faith, love, devotion, dependence, or the aspiration to attain that ideal.
3. Functional component: Religion includes practices through which people express or strengthen their commitment. Examples include prayer, worship, meditation, ethical conduct, rituals, and acts of charity.

Buddhism as a Religion Without a Conventional God

The lecture argues that Buddhism qualifies as a religion because it fulfils all three components:

• Cognitive: Buddhists seek to understand the Four Noble Truths and dependent origination. The ultimate goal is Bodhi, or enlightenment, which the lecture treats as the highest spiritual goal in place of a conventional God.
• Emotional: Buddhists have faith in and aspire toward enlightenment.
• Functional: The Eightfold Path, meditation, ethical conduct, and related practices provide ways to pursue that goal.

Thus, Buddhism is described as a religion without belief in a conventional creator or personal God—not as a tradition without a spiritual ideal.

Jainism as a Religion Without a Conventional God

Jainism is also presented as satisfying the three components:

• Cognitive: Jain teachings offer knowledge relevant to liberation and Kevala Jnana (pure or perfect knowledge). The lecture refers to doctrines such as Anekantavada, Syadvada, and the theory of karma.
• Emotional: Followers revere the Tirthankaras as enlightened beings and regard their teachings as a path to liberation.
• Functional: Practices such as ahimsa (non-violence), asceticism, meditation, and rituals support the pursuit of moksha.

The lecture explains that Jainism does not require a conventional creator God. Rather, a human being may attain an exalted spiritual state by following the teachings and path exemplified by the Tirthankaras.

Main Conclusion

The lecture’s final position is that religious life can be possible without belief in a conventional or personal God. What matters is whether the tradition has:

• Knowledge of an ultimate spiritual reality or goal;
• Faith, devotion, or commitment toward it; and
• Practices aimed at pursuing or realizing it.

This interpretation allows Buddhism and Jainism to count as religions despite their rejection of a conventional creator God. The lecture briefly uses wording that could suggest God is indispensable, but its concluding explanation clarifies that “God” need not mean the personal or creator deity found in other religions.

Exam-Answer Approach

For questions on religion without God, the lecturer suggests this line of argument:

1. Explain the three components of religion.
2. Distinguish a conventional God from a religion’s broader spiritual ideal.
3. Show how Buddhism or Jainism fulfils the cognitive, emotional, and functional components.
4. Conclude that belief in a conventional God is not a necessary condition for religious life.

The lecture connects this framework to past-year questions on Buddhism as a religion without God, the possibility of religious life without belief in God, and whether God is a prerequisite for religion.

Speakers and Sources

• Speaker: Saurabh Gupta, the philosophy instructor presenting the lecture on the Darshan IAS/IS YouTube channel.
• Traditions and teachings discussed: Buddhism, including the Four Noble Truths, dependent origination, Bodhi, and the Eightfold Path; and Jainism, including the Tirthankaras, Kevala Jnana, Anekantavada, Syadvada, karma, ahimsa, and moksha.
• Other sources referenced: Philosophy of religion scholarship in general and past-year UPSC Philosophy Optional questions. No other speakers are featured.