View source for How Motivated Prayers Lead to Becoming an Atheist

Why do people who consider themselves religious suddenly lose their faith? Śrīla Prabhupāda offers a profound psychological insight into the phenomenon of becoming an atheist. He explains that for many, belief in God is transactional: "I give devotion, You give protection/wealth."  When this material motivation is frustrated—when tragedy strikes despite prayer—the fragile foundation of their faith crumbles. This article examines the danger of treating the Supreme Lord as an order-supplier rather than the Supreme Master.

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=== The "German Example" ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently cited a specific historical example to illustrate this point. During the World Wars, many women in Germany went to church to pray fervently for the safe return of their husbands, sons, and brothers fighting at the front. However, when these soldiers did not return, the women felt betrayed by God. Because their specific demand was not met, they rejected God's existence entirely.

* [[Vaniquotes:In Germany during the Second World War, many women went to the church to pray to God to get back their husband, son, or brother. But nobody came back. And they became atheist|In Germany during the Second World War, many women went to the church to pray to God to get back their husband, son, or brother. But nobody came back. And they became atheist.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Because they went to the church with some motive and the motive was not fulfilled, they became atheist. Therefore this type of devotion is not pure devotion. Motive... God is not meant for supplying your orders|Because they went to the church with some motive and the motive was not fulfilled, they became atheist. Therefore this type of devotion is not pure devotion. Motive... God is not meant for supplying your orders.]]

=== God is Not an Order Supplier ===

The root of this atheism is a fundamental misunderstanding of God's position. Many people view God as a powerful servant whose job is to fulfill their desires. As long as the "orders" are supplied, they remain faithful. But the moment the supply stops, the master (the devotee) fires the servant (God). Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this is not true religion. God is the master, and the living entity is the servant.

* [[Vaniquotes:God is not meant for supplying your orders because He takes service. He does not serve anybody. So if we want to bring God for our service, we may be disappointed because God does not agree to serve anybody|God is not meant for supplying your orders because He takes service. He does not serve anybody. So if we want to bring God for our service, we may be disappointed because God does not agree to serve anybody.]]

=== Philosophical Trap ===

Beyond emotional frustration, Śrīla Prabhupāda also identifies philosophical misconceptions that lead to becoming an atheist. Specifically, the ''Māyāvāda'' (impersonalist) philosophy and the tendency to equate the Supreme Lord with demigods act as catalysts for atheism. If one thinks God is merely a powerful being on the same level as Lord Brahmā or Lord Śiva, or if one denies the personality of the Absolute Truth, one is technically an atheist (''pāṣaṇḍī'').

* [[Vaniquotes:In the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, by Sanatana Gosvami, it is said that anyone who puts the Supreme Lord and the demigods, including Lord Siva and Lord Brahma, on the same level, at once becomes a pasandi, or atheist|In the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, by Sanatana Gosvami, it is said that anyone who puts the Supreme Lord and the demigods, including Lord Siva and Lord Brahma, on the same level, at once becomes a pasandi, or atheist.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:For want of Krsna consciousness, people are victimized by the Mayavada philosophy, and consequently they sometimes become staunch atheists|For want of Krsna consciousness, people are victimized by the Mayavada philosophy, and consequently they sometimes become staunch atheists.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Faith based on material conditions is destined to fail because the material world is a place of suffering. True theism begins when one surrenders to God unconditionally, accepting both happiness and distress as His mercy. As long as one approaches God with a shopping list of demands, one remains on the precipice of becoming an atheist.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:Becoming_an_Atheist|Becoming an Atheist]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

(See our [[Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles|Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles]])
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