The Age of Atheism

imposed by religion were done away with. Man was free to do just as he pleased. But later research proved that this theory given by Freud was unnatural. Therefore, far from being helpful, it came in the way of man’s intellectual progress. The modern study of psychology tells us that man’s intellectual progress takes place when he has to face challenges rather than through acting on the permissiveness of society or through having total freedom. The ethical constraints imposed by religion act as a spur to creative thinking. In this way man by saving himself from frittering away his energy, never ceases to make intellectual progress. The ideology presented by Karl Marx (d. 1883) advocated the replacement of the individual control of economic resources by social control. According to Marx, this was the only way to safeguard human rights. But practical experience showed that the dictates of this philosophy must lead to all economic resources being placed under the direct control of the state. The aim of this ideology was apparently to bring about a classless society, but in actuality, it resulted in the emergence of two kinds of classes diametrically opposed to each other. This ideology had two grave repercussions—one, the elimination of competition which acts as a natural incentive for all kinds of progress. The second, the negative consequence of socialistic ideology was to make people, in general, rightsconscious, whereas the secret of success for any society is for its members to be duty-conscious. On reaching this point, the class conflict took a form which was never going to come to an end. Because, in life, whereas duties can be determined, rights cannot be guaranteed. In ancient times, worship of nature became a deterrent to establishing the relationship between God and man on the right lines. What man had to do was to totally associate his thinking, his feelings of love and fear with God. This is the