How does belief in samsara fit with evolution for some Hindus?

The atman passes through many forms of life, rising towards human birth. Some Hindus see biological evolution as the physical side of this journey.

Why do some Hindus, including ISKCON, reject Darwinian evolution?

ISKCON teaches that God created all species and that souls move through them. ISKCON rejects the idea that life arose by chance without consciousness.

How do Hindus use Rig Veda 10.129 in responding to evolution?

The hymn says the gods themselves came after creation and admits uncertainty about how it happened. Hindus take this as leaving room for scientific accounts of life's origins.

Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B 1RB0

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Hinduism: Matters of Life and Death

Hindu responses to evolution and the origins of human life

3 things to know
Paper 1

Overview

Survival of the fittest as a guide to living, the avatars of Vishnu as a mirror of evolution, samsara, ISKCON's rejection of Darwin, Rig Veda 10.129, and the claim that humans are only animals.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is the theory of evolution, and how do many Hindus respond to it?

Key term

Why do Hindus reject survival of the fittest as a guide for how humans should live?

Key term

Why do some Hindus see the avatars of Vishnu as mirroring evolution?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is the theory of evolution, and how do many Hindus respond to it?
Model answer
Evolution explains how species developed over millions of years by natural selection. Many Hindus accept evolution as consistent with a universe shaped by Brahman.
2
Why do Hindus reject survival of the fittest as a guide for how humans should live?
Model answer
Survival of the fittest describes nature, where the best-adapted survive and breed. Hindu dharma requires the strong to protect the weak.
3
Why do some Hindus see the avatars of Vishnu as mirroring evolution?
Model answer
The avatars move from a fish and a tortoise to a boar, a man-lion and then humans. Some Hindus see this sequence as echoing the development of life.
4
How does belief in samsara fit with evolution for some Hindus?
Model answer
The atman passes through many forms of life, rising towards human birth. Some Hindus see biological evolution as the physical side of this journey.
5
Why do some Hindus, including ISKCON, reject Darwinian evolution?
Model answer
ISKCON teaches that God created all species and that souls move through them. ISKCON rejects the idea that life arose by chance without consciousness.
6
How do Hindus use Rig Veda 10.129 in responding to evolution?
Model answer
The hymn says the gods themselves came after creation and admits uncertainty about how it happened. Hindus take this as leaving room for scientific accounts of life's origins.

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