Javed Akhtar on religion and the assault on reason
Javed Akhtar has only one god.
Reason.
That’s why, when you ask him to talk religion, you can expect fireworks. And there were plenty when he took the Algebra stage for an hour-long conversation on faith back in September 2016.
His deep dive into the fascinating world of faith was incisive, brutal, nuanced and laugh-out-loud funny at once. In a riveting conversation, Javed sa’ab argued the distinction between belief and faith, acknowledged the role of faith in science, but also skillfully brought us back to the core difference in how science and religion use faith: the first to establish possibility, the latter from a place of implacable certainty.
He may be one of the country’s most celebrated screenwriters and lyricists, but it is as a rationalist that Javed Akhtar may do us the greatest service. For a masterclass in reasoning, watch the full session above.
