Javed Akhtar compares religious obsession to 'schizophrenia'
Renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar recently expressed his views on the intersection of religion and intellect. He said that all religions, without exception, belong to the "dark ages." The 77-year-old poet was speaking at the latest session of Expresso, a conversation series held in Mumbai. He explained that his atheism stems from his ability to think and question societal norms.
Akhtar criticizes religious indoctrination during childhood
When asked about his escape from religious indoctrination, Akhtar said, "We are rational, logical but a part of our brain is damaged in childhood when we had no choice." He criticized the practice of instilling religious beliefs in children at an early age when they are unable to question or understand these concepts.
Akhtar calls the 20th and 21st centuries 'time of schizophrenia'
Akhtar further said, "The 20th and 21st century is the time of schizophrenia, people have split personalities." "A man in India from ISRO, who can send a rocket to the precise place of moon... But moon had chandralok, devi-devtas used to live there, you are sending a rocket there, and the moment you send it, you go out and you go to the temple. This is schizophrenia."
'All religions belong to dark ages'
Akhtar further said, "All these religions, all the religions without exception, belong to the dark ages. Their roots are in the Dark Ages. You bring the dark age with you. Your umbilical cord has not been cut from the dark ages." Separately, Akhtar is currently dominating headlines due to the Amazon Prime Video documentary Angry Young Men, based on his iconic writing collaborations with Salim Khan.
