Debates are now raging over a new controversial law that allows the State to interfere in a deeply individual choice like marriage (notwithstanding that in India, it is not such a deeply personal choice).

It doesn’t require much intelligence to see this as unconstitutional and State trying to exert power over individual liberties and freedom. But State has always been about power—be it a democratic, autocratic or totalitarian State. And religion has been the biggest tool for State to wield power over people. It works well. Because power is what religions and its leaders relish, too.

For, organised religions never encouraged personal choices. It made people believe that they need rules of their book to live a value-based, upright life. If not, they will sin and their lives will go astray. Conformity is what organised religions wanted and therein lies power. Blasphemy laws (luckily not in India) are blatant display of power in the name of defending the divine. That it needs State power to protect gods itself is an irony.

Perhaps, this is the best time (any time is best time!) to raise a new generation of children without religious beliefs. People who need not rely on a holy book or the label of a religion to grow with deep compassion and empathy for fellow beings. As people who could question everything without the fear of rejection. As people who will draw strengths from their relationships with others to face an uncertain world.

Before someone (i.e., people who know me personally) says that I should not talk about raising children because I don’t have kids, let me say this: yes, not having children is the first and better choice. Raising them without religion is the just the second best.