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A report by Vikas Gora on the Fifth World Atheist Conference on Atheism and social progress held at Atheist Centre, Vijayawada, India, on January 7-9, 2005.

Article Excerpt
The Fifth World Atheist Conference was organized by Atheist Centre from January 7-9, 2005 at Siddhartha Auditorium, Vijayawada, India. The theme of the Conference was "Atheism and Social Progress." The backdrop banner of the Conference dais--with the impressive pictures of Gora, Robert Green Ingersoll, Charles Bradlaugh, Periyar E. V. Ramaswami and Abraham T. Kovoor--reflected the historic significance of the Conference.

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The Inauguration

Dr. Demos Gora presented a welcome dance, followed by an international song sung by delegates, which was written by Mr. Kumaraswami. Following this, Mr. Roy Brown, President of the IHEU and Mr. Levi Fragell, President of the Conference from Norway, flagged off the Conference by way of swinging the flags of the countries whose representatives were present for the Conference.

Dr. Vijayam of the Atheist Centre, highlighted the historical significance of the five World Atheist Conferences from 1972 to 2005. He stated that Atheism and Social Progress are intricately interconnected and that Atheism is a way of life and a philosophy based upon reality and social outlook. It aims at the development of an individual's personality in every sphere of life. Atheism is not negative, but positive; it is constructive and creative. It encompasses all the problems of life and aims at human liberation.

Mrs. Saraswathi Gora's Welcome Address

Mrs. Saraswathi Gora (b.1912), co-founder of the Atheist Centre, delivered her message in Telugu (regional language). Subha Gora, the great-great-grand-daughter of Gora, read out the fuller version of her speech in English. Saraswathi Gora in her speech highlighted the struggles that she encountered along with Gora in spreading Atheism as a way of life. She brought forward the nostalgic memories wherein Gora was dismissed from colleges as he championed Atheism. They were also initially outcast from social functions as they were dubbed by the orthodox as "godless people." But with dialogue and discussion, as the years passed, the barriers of hesitation disappeared and those who made them outcasts became partners in progress recognizing the fact that "To do good and to be good, god and religion are not necessary."

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She strongly argued that religions promote slave minds and submission. Hence, open advocacy of Atheism is a must. Atheists take responsibility on themselves and try to change the world they live in. Social progress becomes a reality because of change in the attitude of the people. She stressed the fact that morality is a social necessity and it is not divinely ordained. Morality is a must for the onward march of society because it is based upon the unity of precept and practice. She urged people to think and act scientifically and explained that Atheism is an alternative way of life.

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Saraswathi also mentioned the need for social equality and a post-religious society free from superstitions and blind beliefs. She also highlighted that religious people blame their fate, their stars, and their actions in previous births for the predicament to which they are subjected here and now. They shift the blame onto others, curse their fate, and spend their time in prayer. But Atheists take the blame on themselves and try to change the system. Touching upon gender equality, she mentioned that neither men nor women are superior or inferior. They are equals. All humans are born equal and they should live equal.

She also reiterated that to free society from the clutches of religion, it is important to develop an alternative way of life, literature, and language, and all aspects of life...

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