The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities.
By performing the sacrifice of congregational chanting of the holy names, learned scholars in the age of kali worship Lord Krishna, who is non-blackish because of the great upsurge of the feeling of Srimati Radharani. (i.e. they worship Lord Chaitanya)
Aggressive intellectualism is "Atheism".
What is the value of a prolonged life which is wasted, inexperienced by years in this world? Better a moment of full consciousness, because that gives one a start in searching after his supreme interest.