This debate, creationism vs evolutionism, is not just in christian cultures or communities, its in Islam countries, and pretty much all over the world. The main debate is between Theism vs Naturalism. Theism is the real threat to any other views, be it Naturalism, Hinduism and even Deism. The atheists don't find any threat in Hinduism or Buddhism, but any theistic religion is a big threat to naturalism, especially Christianity.
Yes, you're right, these debates occur cross culturally. I dont necessarily think the debate is just about naturalism vs theism, its more about people trying to understand themselves, the world they live in..work out the 'truth'. But because of all these labels, and dogmas, our fragile egos and attachments to them, it becomes just about defending and attacking ideas. Prooving and disprooving the mainstream perceptions. Sometimes it is not possible to have open communication when one is so highly invested/attached to something. The question is...does it even have to be a debate? Does there need to be any threats? Why not an open exploration? Some tolerance for uncertainty, dropping some labels and just being open?
It depends of what angle one is looking. If your starting from the premises of Naturalism, there is no creation at all, just blind evolution. If you start from the premises of Hinduism, there is no Creation and no Evolution, there is just Everything. But in the Theistic framework, there is just creation, and also what one might call micro-evolution.
Yes it depends entirely on perception, much like everything. Many Hindus (not all!) do believe in creation, their intepretation is just different from Christianity. Here is a link to some creation stories from different cultures/religions -
http://www.innovationslearning.co.uk/subjects/re/information/creation/creation_home.htm.
This is happening only to people who are ignorant. But the scientists and philosophers know very much what they are talking about.
I dont know if thats true, but i certainly hope it is, and it is possible.
You say your philosophy has nothing to do with the major world religions, yet this is a form of classic Hisduism
Lol, its very interesting that you say that...many people have said the same. Even when i was a young child people said that. My mum used to be a Hindu before she converetd to Christianity when she married my dad. We had people in our life that were Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Seikh, Muslim, Athiest, and ofcourse many Christians. Although i doubted the existance and the relavance of 'God' at times, there are other things that i have always believed in/understood such as reincarnation and the idea that we 'create reality' (now i understand that as project illusion). I didnt question those ideas until i was older, but when i was younger, it was very easy and natural to tap into past life experience and communication with the entities all around us. Because my environment was christianised, they referred to me as a witch, and possesed by some sort of evil hindu demon! But at other times they thought that maybe i was blessed by the christian God. Anyway...those good old days, all over now.
There is much of the major religions beliefs that i find fascinating and even 'true'. I take some from Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism. And then theres Kabbalah, New Age Movement, Holism, Shamanism, Paganism, Druidism, gnostism, alchemy, and ofcourse mysticism. And tools like tarot, astrology, divination, 'magic'. And then theres the sciences, philosophy, psychology. And ofocurse my personal experience, life, people, the world! But it's all selective. I take what i want/need from all of them, and some from my personal knowledge and experience. i dont see why there is any need to swallow the whole tree when a piece of the fruit will suffice. Or to hold onto to anything. It is the knowledge/spiritual experience i want, not the kool aid and cultural institution. Why is there any need to choose one? Or any at all...i believe that any sincere seeking, reaching out to the awe of 'being' will lead us Home. It is all about the Love! Love really is everything, it is consciousness, it is God, it is our nature, its everything. I dont think any of the religions/sciences/arts have the whole picture, although some are very close... they are all trying to point at the sun. The Sun is beyond detail, it cannot be contained and understood through something as fickle as words! We have enough cultural barriers separating us humans anyway, why create more? Although, admittedly, some religions are very inclusive and are based on limiting separation. I do admire that about religions like hinduism, in the sense that its so open and broad, no set dogmas etc. If there are a hundred hands pointing to the sun, why not look to see where they are all pointing? No reason to just pick one and get caught up in/consumed simply in the hand thats pointing. But i still dont see any real spiritual purpose for religion. It is a framework that can get people started, and point the way, but God is not something to be found in the pages of a book, a human constructed building, or a 'leader'. These things may help, but they are not the one way. The way is within All! The 'Christ' Is. God Is. I didnt find God through any religion, i recognised God when i let go. It is not possible for me to deny God having experienced Source energy. I have an ecletic spiritual experience. Shekinah is my guide, my Mother. I serve Her because of Love. Since ive been doing 'a course in miracles' i regularly communicate with Jesus. Ive been seeking help from and working with Angels for some time now. I still talk to my other guides and many others. Do meditations and yoga. Work with the energy of Earth. And enjoy being here on Earth and the people, animals, plants, and environment around me, All That Is.
