C.N. Annadurai on GOD

Rishi wrote:In an interview given soon after he became the chief minis-
ter of Tamil Nadu in 1967, C N Annadurai, the founder of the
DMK, noted: “I was always pleading for real faith in God”.
Drawing on his own engagement with the question of theism
and atheism, he continued,

...I wrote the script for Swargavasal, a film which proved quite popu-
lar in Tamilnad. In this, I discussed the theme of atheism and theism. I
have drawn the conclusion which I felt was reasonable that reliance on
too many gods and rituals was not necessary for faith in God. I said
true faith in God is to have faith in fellow human beings… Of course, I
am a rationalist who wants to end unreason and blind faith in the
people. But genuine belief and true faith in God should be there
amongst the people so that it helps them to become more and more
aware and conscious of their duties and responsibilities to their fellow
human beings.

Importantly, such a position on religion, i e, what religious
faith ought to be rather than what it is was being advanced by
the DMK leadership from the 1950s onwards. For instance, in a
speech delivered during the early 1950s, Annadurai noted:

We want a God who asks of us only our love. We refuse to have any-
thing to do with gods which want us to give them palaces, priests to serve as their middlemen, wives, mistresses and costly jewels and
festivals...If only God were to address the people direct, he would say
‘How foolish you are. I created the world...Above all, I gave you intel-
ligence with which to differentiate between right and wrong...All I
want is that you should love the poor and downtrodden and try to
improve their lot.

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

Rishi wrote:In an interview given soon after he became the chief minis-
ter of Tamil Nadu in 1967, C N Annadurai, the founder of the
DMK, noted: “I was always pleading for real faith in God”.
Drawing on his own engagement with the question of theism
and atheism, he continued,

...I wrote the script for Swargavasal, a film which proved quite popu-
lar in Tamilnad. In this, I discussed the theme of atheism and theism. I
have drawn the conclusion which I felt was reasonable that reliance on
too many gods and rituals was not necessary for faith in God. I said
true faith in God is to have faith in fellow human beings… Of course, I
am a rationalist who wants to end unreason and blind faith in the
people. But genuine belief and true faith in God should be there
amongst the people so that it helps them to become more and more
aware and conscious of their duties and responsibilities to their fellow
human beings.

Importantly, such a position on religion, i e, what religious
faith ought to be rather than what it is was being advanced by
the DMK leadership from the 1950s onwards. For instance, in a
speech delivered during the early 1950s, Annadurai noted:

We want a God who asks of us only our love. We refuse to have any-
thing to do with gods which want us to give them palaces, priests to serve as their middlemen, wives, mistresses and costly jewels and
festivals...If only God were to address the people direct, he would say
‘How foolish you are. I created the world...Above all, I gave you intel-
ligence with which to differentiate between right and wrong...All I
want is that you should love the poor and downtrodden and try to
improve their lot.

should tell a funny thing that happened this weekend. At the local temple I saw a guy talking to the temple admin about buying tickets for "archanai" The admin was explaining to him that it costs $12 for one god, 2 tickets and $24 for archanai to 2 gods. he can get as many tickets he wants for as many gods but they are all different.

Just wanted to share this theological news.

Rishi wrote:

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

Rishi wrote:In an interview given soon after he became the chief minis-
ter of Tamil Nadu in 1967, C N Annadurai, the founder of the
DMK, noted: “I was always pleading for real faith in God”.
Drawing on his own engagement with the question of theism
and atheism, he continued,

...I wrote the script for Swargavasal, a film which proved quite popu-
lar in Tamilnad. In this, I discussed the theme of atheism and theism. I
have drawn the conclusion which I felt was reasonable that reliance on
too many gods and rituals was not necessary for faith in God. I said
true faith in God is to have faith in fellow human beings… Of course, I
am a rationalist who wants to end unreason and blind faith in the
people. But genuine belief and true faith in God should be there
amongst the people so that it helps them to become more and more
aware and conscious of their duties and responsibilities to their fellow
human beings.

Importantly, such a position on religion, i e, what religious
faith ought to be rather than what it is was being advanced by
the DMK leadership from the 1950s onwards. For instance, in a
speech delivered during the early 1950s, Annadurai noted:

We want a God who asks of us only our love. We refuse to have any-
thing to do with gods which want us to give them palaces, priests to serve as their middlemen, wives, mistresses and costly jewels and
festivals...If only God were to address the people direct, he would say
‘How foolish you are. I created the world...Above all, I gave you intel-
ligence with which to differentiate between right and wrong...All I
want is that you should love the poor and downtrodden and try to
improve their lot.

should tell a funny thing that happened this weekend. At the local temple I saw a guy talking to the temple admin about buying tickets for "archanai" The admin was explaining to him that it costs $12 for one god, 2 tickets and $24 for archanai to 2 gods. he can get as many tickets he wants for as many gods but they are all different.

Just wanted to share this theological news.

What Annadurai said about GOD is completely true.

I think they they collect money for Archana to pay off the huge mortgage they have taken out for the temple.