Quote Originally Posted by sapansaxena View Post
Maybe you are right, in countries where existence is pleasant, you get lesser time for sadhana/prayer.
However, why would this make people believe they are less religious, is inexplicable
Pranams.

Material development is not the cause for atheism. Our history talks about very prosperous kingdoms like Ayodhya etc which were rich in gold, grains, animals, rain etc but were devoid of atheists. Even till recent times, India was rich in material comforts before the invaders took them away. Our Vedic culture kept spirituality and materialism in balance giving ample opportunities for spirituality to develop. Even the most materialistic person would worship in the morning, work(with dharma) in afternoon and indulge in pleasures in the evening.

I think the spread of western culture can be held as a primary cause. With its spread comes indiscriminate indulgance in the name of freedom and much importance to skin show etc. with the movies and music only fueling it. When the mind is involved in uncontrolled material pleasures with food steeped only in sins, where is the chance of spirituality to develop?

Even those who take up to so called spirituality or meditation have had their senses indulging in all unhealthy habits all their lives. But for us, the pre-req was clear - athAto Brahma jignyAsA - having lead a disciplined Vedic life.