If you were an atheist, Birbal, the Emperor challenged his first minister, what would you say to the true believers of all the great religions of the world? Birbal was a devout Brahmin from Trivikrampur, but he answered unhesitatingly, I would say to them that in my opinion they were all atheists as well; I merely believe in one god less than each of them. How so? the Emperor asked. All true believers have good reasons for disbelieving in every god except their own, said Birbal. And so it is they who, between them, give me all the reasons for believing in none.
In Salman Rushdie's "The Enchantress of Florence," a thought-provoking dialogue unfolds between Emperor Akbar and his minister, Birbal, regarding the nature of belief and atheism. When challenged about what he would say to devout followers of different religions, Birbal, despite being a Brahmin, confidently declares that they are all atheists in a way, as each one dismisses the existence of gods other than their own. This perspective encourages a deeper reflection on the concept of faith in comparison to disbelief.
Birbal further explains that true believers possess valid reasons for rejecting the gods of other faiths, which inadvertently solidifies his stance as an atheist. By stating that these believers provide him with all the arguments he needs to be skeptical of any deity, he underscores a shared rationality among religions. This exchange highlights a crucial philosophical inquiry about faith and atheism, drawing attention to the commonalities in human belief systems and the reasoning that leads people to atheism.
