Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Panta Pei · 03-10-2002, 11:14 PM

Yin...Yang...so beautifully expressed

Skepticwithachainsaw · 04-11-2002, 01:50 AM

Well I don't know too much about Eastern similar Religions but the impression I get is that they are often have much more of a philosophical slant rather than the “historic approach” of the Abraham religions. For the most part the principles of Faiths rely on the Bible, Torah or Koran being relatively accurate “historic documents” (although some of the more liberal followers of the Religions would disagree).

Hinduism, Buddhism and their Ilk the more of a sort of philosophical attitude towards behaviour and the nature of reality rather than caring about whether the history behind their Religion is strictly accurate.

The reason why Buddhism is more a Religion than a Faith is because it relies on faith (well personal transcendent experiences) rather than strict Reason.

Simply put, the Eastern Religions care about the individual in the here and now rather than the Abrahamic Religions being more of a collective group looking to the past for explanation and guidence.

Therefore something like where the Human Race comes from is perhaps relatively unimportant becuase their Relgion just doesn't focus on the issue.

My small amount of currency.

[ April 11, 2002: Message edited by: Skepticwithachainsaw ]

[ April 11, 2002: Message edited by: Skepticwithachainsaw ]</p>

Ron Singh · 04-11-2002, 11:48 PM

Sikhs beleive in evolution, and in the Big Bang. There are some references to them in the scriptures, but I don't know where, maybe I can find them.

Dr. Jagan Mohan · 04-14-2002, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Well I don't know too much about Eastern similar Religions but the impression I get is that they are often have much more of a philosophical slant rather than the �historic approach� of the Abraham religions

You coundn't have put it better!

roshan · 04-19-2002, 07:14 AM

a large majority of hindus accept evolution.

in sanskrit, the langauge in which our texts are written, we do not have a word for creation(at least not the way that the bible uses it) the sanskrit word for creation means to create something out of something that already exists.

another reason why hindus accept evolution is that hindus regard the myths in hindu scriptures as not being real occurences, but rather, as symbolic stories.
hindu scriptures also say that the world is several billion years old, so the age of the universe doesnt contradict hindu scriptures.

roshan · 04-19-2002, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lpetrich:
<strong>First, who's Cremo?

So the idea of being descended from monkeys might actually seem plausible from a Hindu standpoint.

However, I would suspect that Hindu fundamentalists would have trouble with natural selection rather than evolution in general; they'd prefer to believe in divinely-directed evolution. In fact, some Hare Krishnas apparently hold such views.

(Additional comments added by editing)

[ January 25, 2002: Message edited by: lpetrich ]</strong>

there is a large amount of diversity in beliefs within hinduism, and there are many schools of philosophy like advaita vedanta which believe in an impersonal god, so for them, divinely directed evolution is not possible.

maybe hindus who believe in a personal god believe in divinely directed evolution.

Dr. Jagan Mohan · 04-24-2002, 02:41 AM

Quote:

in sanskrit, the langauge in which our texts are written, we do not have a word for creation the sanskrit word for creation means to create something out of something that already exists

The concept of 'creation' in Hinduism as said by Roshan is rightly translated as 'Manifestation'.

The Universe is the Manifestation of the Creative power of the Supreme Reality.

In Advaita-vada or Monism, This Manifestation which we call the Universe in fact DOESNOT exist in reality, but is a Illusion. This Illusion being called 'Maya' or 'What-that-seems-to-be;But-in-reality-is-NOT'

In other Theistic Schools of Thought of Hinduism, such as Dwaita-vada or Dualism, Vishistadwaita or Qualified Monism, etc.. This Universe has a dependent reality, being impermanent and subject to constant change.

In short, Evolution is a Cardinal point of Hinduism. Everything evolves from the one reality called Brahman or God and reaches it/Him as the final Goal.

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03-10-2002, 11:14 PM	#31
Panta Pei Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: in the middle of things Posts: 722	Yin...Yang...so beautifully expressed

04-11-2002, 01:50 AM	#32
Skepticwithachainsaw Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In your Imagination Posts: 69	Well I don't know too much about Eastern similar Religions but the impression I get is that they are often have much more of a philosophical slant rather than the “historic approach” of the Abraham religions. For the most part the principles of Faiths rely on the Bible, Torah or Koran being relatively accurate “historic documents” (although some of the more liberal followers of the Religions would disagree). Hinduism, Buddhism and their Ilk the more of a sort of philosophical attitude towards behaviour and the nature of reality rather than caring about whether the history behind their Religion is strictly accurate. The reason why Buddhism is more a Religion than a Faith is because it relies on faith (well personal transcendent experiences) rather than strict Reason. Simply put, the Eastern Religions care about the individual in the here and now rather than the Abrahamic Religions being more of a collective group looking to the past for explanation and guidence. Therefore something like where the Human Race comes from is perhaps relatively unimportant becuase their Relgion just doesn't focus on the issue. My small amount of currency. [ April 11, 2002: Message edited by: Skepticwithachainsaw ] [ April 11, 2002: Message edited by: Skepticwithachainsaw ]</p>

04-11-2002, 11:48 PM	#33
Ron Singh Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 163	Sikhs beleive in evolution, and in the Big Bang. There are some references to them in the scriptures, but I don't know where, maybe I can find them.

04-19-2002, 07:14 AM	#35
roshan Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: philippines Posts: 72	a large majority of hindus accept evolution. in sanskrit, the langauge in which our texts are written, we do not have a word for creation(at least not the way that the bible uses it) the sanskrit word for creation means to create something out of something that already exists. another reason why hindus accept evolution is that hindus regard the myths in hindu scriptures as not being real occurences, but rather, as symbolic stories. hindu scriptures also say that the world is several billion years old, so the age of the universe doesnt contradict hindu scriptures.

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