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...
