What if I told you I’m a religion-loving atheist? | Riyana Goel | TEDxSaintFrancisHS

Mon May 5, 2025

What if the rituals and beliefs you inherited were merely tools in your personal toolkit—ready to be borrowed, adapted, or set aside on your journey toward connection? My journey with religion—from inherited Hindu rituals to immersive Buddhist practice, Catholic teachings, and ultimately atheism—taught me that faith isn’t about dogma or labels, but about the universal human need for vulnerability, hope, and connection. By embracing “faith neutrality,” we can draw wisdom from any tradition to cultivate empathy and unity that transcends creed. Riyana Goel is a junior at St Francis. She is passionate about leadership, especially in regards to mental health advocacy in her community. She founded a global mindfulness nonprofit 5 years ago called Apart But Not Alone and has also worked on the City of Cupertino's Youth Activity Board for three years. Apart from TEDx at school, she writes for The Lancer and is a tutor for the California Scholarship Federation. Riyana is a strong advocate for diversity within ideas, so she was compelled to speak about the lack of conversations regarding religious diversity. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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