Philosophy Optional · Paper II · Philosophy of Religion
Religion without God Notes · PYQs
Free notes and every UPSC previous year question for Religion without God, Unit 17 of Paper II, Section B: the official syllabus, 8 topic-wise notes in syllabus order, and all 11 questions from 2000 to 2026 grouped by sub-topic.
8
Free notes
11
Questions listed
8
Asked since 2013
2000–2026
Years covered
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Syllabus Free notes Previous year questions All Philosophy units
Official UPSC syllabus
Religion without God: syllabus
The syllabus text for this unit in Paper II, Section B (Philosophy of Religion) of Philosophy Optional. Every note and question on this page maps to it.
Religion without God.
Paper II · Section B · Unit 17
Religion without God notes
Topic-wise notes for this unit in syllabus order, written for UPSC Mains in plain language, with diagrams and the previous year questions on each topic.
Free notes
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What Is Religion? Religare and Relegere, Dharma, Theistic and Broad Definitions, Family Resemblance, the Marks of a Religion and the Central Concept of a Religion without God
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Theism, Atheism, Agnosticism and Non-theism: Kinds of Atheism, Huxley’s Agnosticism, Agnostics on Religion and God, Indian Parallels, Nietzsche’s Death of God and Can Atheism Be a Religion?
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Is God Necessary for Religion? The Theist’s Case, the Non-theist’s Reply, Seven Marks of Religion in Non-theistic Faiths, Gandhi’s Truth Is God, Personal and Impersonal God in Devotion and a Balanced Verdict
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Buddhism as a Religion without God: the Buddha’s Silence, Mahā-Brahmā’s Delusion, Arguments against a Creator, Self-governing Karma, Anattā and Religion, Mahāyāna Devotion and Ambedkar’s Navayāna
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Jainism: Devotion without a Creator, the Uncreated Universe, Jaina Arguments against a World-maker, God as the Perfected Soul, Worship as Aspiration and Is Jainism a Religion or an Ethical System?
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Sāṃkhya, Mīmāṃsā and Indian Non-theism: God Not Proved, Prakṛti’s Blind Purpose, Ritual without God, Apūrva, Advaita’s Īśvara, Cārvāka, Liberation with and without God
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Religions of Humanity and Society: Feuerbach’s Projection, Comte’s Religion of Humanity, Durkheim’s Sacred and Profane, Marxism as a Secular Faith and Can Humanism Replace Religion?
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Religious Naturalism and Dworkin’s Religion without God: Spinoza, Einstein, Julian Huxley, Dewey, Tillich, Non-realist Religion and the Religious Atheist
Free practice
Previous year questions: Religion without God
All 11 questions UPSC has set from this unit between 2000 and 2026, grouped by sub-topic with the most-asked first, newest first within each. Questions from 2013 onwards are shown; earlier ones open on a tap.
How often UPSC asks each sub-topic
| Sub-topic | Questions | Since 2013 | Last asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is God Necessary? | 5 | 5 | 2021 |
| Buddhism | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Agnosticism | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Theist Objection | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Central Concept | 1 | 0 | 2010 |
| Atheism as Religion | 1 | 0 | 2005 |
Is God Necessary?
5 questions · 5 since 2013 · last asked 2021
Asked since 2013 · 5
2021Is religious life possible without the belief in God? Discuss. (10 marks)2020Critically examine the concept of God as prerequisite for a religion. (15 marks)2018Can you justify religion without God? Support your answer. (10 marks)2017Is God necessary for religion? Justify your answer. (10 marks)2015Is existence of God a necessary condition for the survival of religion? Explain. (10 marks)
Buddhism
2 questions · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2024
Asked since 2013 · 1
2024State and evaluate Buddhism as a religion without God. (20 marks)
Show 1 earlier question (before 2013)
2000 · 1 question
2000Can there be religion without God? Discuss with reference to Buddhism. (20 marks)
Agnosticism
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2023
Asked since 2013 · 1
2023What is Agnosticism? How do agnostics conceptualize the relation between religion and God? Discuss. (10 marks)
Theist Objection
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2019
Asked since 2013 · 1
2019How would a religious person deny the possibility of a religion without God? Discuss. (15 marks)
Central Concept
1 question · 0 since 2013 · last asked 2010
2010 · 1 question
2010What is the central concept in a religion without God? Discuss (15 marks)
Atheism as Religion
1 question · 0 since 2013 · last asked 2005
2005 · 1 question
2005Can atheism be a religion? Discuss (60 marks)
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