Origins and worldview

Many traditions, many accounts of beginnings.

Religious and non-theistic communities approach the origins of life, humanity, Earth and the universe in different ways. This guide maps that diversity with care and context.

Star-filled night sky above a quiet landscape

Evolution and creation science

Beliefs about origins

Views about origins vary within religions as well as between them. The aim here is comparison, not a verdict about which community is correct.

Overview

Questions about origins often connect scientific explanations with sacred stories, philosophical arguments and cultural identity. A single tradition may include literal, symbolic, accommodationist and non-theistic readings.

This section considers how faith groups and other worldviews discuss the history of the Earth, the development of species and the origin of the universe. It also notes where internal disagreements have produced debate or social friction.

Reading with context

Terms such as “creation,” “evolution,” “design” and “myth” can carry different meanings. Read each article with attention to the community, period and definition being discussed.

Continue exploring

Related essays

Use these connected readings to place origins debates within wider comparisons of religion, science and public opinion.

Overview of evolution and creation science

Key terms, recurring arguments and the relationship between scientific models and religious interpretation.

Conflicting worldviews

A guide to different frameworks for understanding knowledge, meaning and the development of life.

Beliefs of the U.S. public

An archived overview of public attitudes toward origins and related questions.

Compare beliefs

Broaden the inquiry through comparisons across religious and non-theistic traditions.

Reader guide

Questions readers often ask

Do all members of one religion share the same view of origins?

No. Interpretations can differ by denomination, movement, culture, generation and individual conviction.

Is this section arguing for evolution or creation?

It is an educational comparison of viewpoints. The articles describe positions and their contexts rather than asking readers to adopt one.

Why can the same religious tradition have several positions?

Sacred texts, interpretive methods, educational settings and changing scientific knowledge can lead communities within one tradition to different conclusions.

How should I approach creation stories?

First identify their genre and purpose. A story may be read as history, symbolism, theology, ritual memory or a combination of these.

Where can I compare religions more broadly?

Visit the comparison of beliefs section and the glossary for unfamiliar terms.