Hare Krishna creationism

[[File:Git govind large.jpg|right|300px|thumb| The poet Jayadeva bows to Vishnu. Artist unknown. Gouache on paper, 1730.]]{{Bronze}}{{crenav}}{{Hinduism}}
'''[[Hare Krishna]] [[Creationism]]''' ('''HKC'''; to proponents, '''[[Hindu]]''' or '''[[Vedic]] Creationism''') is the view that the [[creation]] of the [[universe]] took place according to literally interpreted chunks of the [[Vedic]] texts.

Despite being called Hindu Creationism, the creation [[mythologies]], cosmologies, and legends of broader [[Hinduism]] are considerably more varied, while the Hare Krishna version is quite specific and detailed. (A loose analogy: imagine taking the novel, detailed cosmologies of American [[evangelical]] [[fundamentalist Christian]]s and calling them "Abrahamic creationism".)

It is [[old earth creationism]] — in fact, HKC proposes an age for Earth and the universe which is even ''older'' than the one accepted by [[science]].

==Beliefs==
The main claim in HKC is all species on [[Earth]], including [[human]]s, [[Devolution|devolved]] from a higher state of [[consciousness]] due to a past "Vedic curse" of decay, mentioned in the Puranas.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20120509010420/http://krishnascience.info/files/Symptoms_Devolution.html Symptoms of Devolution]</ref> All organisms were originally immaterial and existed in the [[spirit]] world, but the spirits were covered and trapped in [[matter]]; however, by doing [[meditation]], practicing [[spirituality]], and reading the [[Vedas|Vedic writings]], we can cast off [[materialism]] and raise our consciousness to a higher plane of existence and become the spiritual beings that we ''really'' are.<ref>Michael Cremo (2003). ''Human Devolution: A Vedic alternative to Darwin's theory.'' Bhaktivedanta Book Publishing</ref>

Hare Krishna devotee Stephen Knapp wrote:

{{quotebox|The Vedic texts say that the source of humanity, and all life, is a matter of devolving from higher dimensions, namely from the spiritual dimension. All living beings are not only physical, but also the subtle body of mind, intelligence, ego, and, ultimately, the spiritual [[soul]] which is beyond everything else. Therefore, living beings have not evolved out of matter, or evolved up from the apes, but are only traveling through matter and the various forms that nature provides, each form or species based on our level of consciousness. This is to acquire all the experiences that this three-dimensional world can provide, and that our consciousness deems necessary for our own growth. Then, once we are finished with this material realm of existence by regaining our spiritual identity and acting on that level, we make our way back to the spiritual domain.}}

This view rejects the "Out of Africa" theory of human origins and endorses a model of "simultaneous multi-species", a view which asserts different species of human-like beings existing at the same time.<ref>[http://www.stephen-knapp.com/out_of_africa_theory_verses_the_vedic_view.htm The Out of Africa Theory Verses the Vedic View]</ref> ISKCON members {{--}} such as Michael Cremo {{--}} take a literal reading of the Hindu religious writings such as the Puranas which teach that time and space are cyclical. They also believe the Earth goes through a [[Cyclical theory|cyclic model]] of ''[[yuga]]s'', which says life on Earth devolves through epochs, with each one becoming progressively darker, more alienated, and degenerated than the previous.<ref>The Hare Krishna movement: the postcharismatic fate of a religious transplant, Maria Ekstrand, 2004, p. 12</ref><ref>Back to godhead: the magazine of the Hare Krishna Movement, Volume 23, Baktivendanta Book Trust, 1988, p. 71</ref>

Hindu creationists also accept the [[Big Bang]] and merge it into a cyclical model reminiscent of the [[Big Bang#What the Big Bang theory actually says|"Big Crunch"]].

Hindu creationists deny [[macroevolution]] and only support [[microevolution]], much like [[young Earth creationist]]s. Hindu creationists also accept that "ape men" and humans have coexisted with each other; this view is opposed by Christian creationists.

HKCs embrace [[paranormal]] and [[occult]] topics such as [[out-of-body experience]]s, [[Extraterrestrial|aliens]], and [[reincarnation]].

==Adherents==
[[File:AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.jpg|thumb|right|165px|A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, c. 1972]]
The only modern organization in support of Hindu creationism is the [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]] (ISKCON). The founder of ISKCON, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, rejected [[natural selection]] but accepted a form of evolution. According to Prabhupada, humans have always existed in a spiritual form.<ref>See Life Comes from Life {{--}} written by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (founder of ISKCON)</ref> In one publication, he accepted "species of life evolved from aquatics to plants, vegetables, trees; thereafter insects, reptiles, flies, [[birds]], then beasts, and then human kind."<ref>[http://www.hknet.org.nz/DarwinTheoryGoneApe.html We Accept Evolution, but Not Darwin's Theory]</ref>

Two theories which advocated similar views were proposed by [[William Fix]] in 1984 and [[John Davidson]] in 1992.

HKC was explained in detail by [[Michael Cremo]] in his book ''Human Devolution: A Vedic alternative to Darwin's theory'' (2003). A 2011 follow-up, co-written with Leif A. Jensen, was entitled ''[[Rethinking Darwin: A Vedic Study of Darwinism and Intelligent Design]]''; this text also included contributions from [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Creationism|creationists]]/[[Intelligent Design]], generating a kind of [[Ecumenism|ecumenic]] [[crank magnetism]].

==HKC and science==
The theory of ''Dashavatara'' can be seen as having some similarities with [[Charles Darwin]]'s theory of evolution.<ref>By "Flipside of Hindu Symbolism: Sociological and Scientific Linkages in Hinduism", by "M. K. V. Narayan", P. 185.</ref><ref>http://business.highbeam.com/437657/article-1G1-194886404/difference-did-darwin-make</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/beliefs/intro_1.shtml |title=Religion & Ethics-Hinduism|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-12-26}}</ref><ref>By John Hedley Brooke, Ronald L. Numbers, "Science and Religion Around the World", P. 204,</ref>

According to HKC, modern-day humans have existed in present form for two billion years. Michael Cremo has attempted to document old skeletons and artifacts which he thinks proves this idea,<ref>''Forbidden Archeology: The Hidden History of the Human Race'' by Michael Cremo (1998) Bhaktivedanta Book Publishing. ISBN 0892132949.</ref> but his books have been denounced as [[Pseudohistory|pseodohistorical]] and [[Pseudoarchaeology|pseodoarchaeological]] [[pseudoscience]] by the [[Archaeology|archaeological]], [[History|historical]], and [[Science|scientific]] communities.<ref>[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/mom/groves.html Creationism: The Hindu View By Colin Groves]</ref>

==HKC vs YEC==
Hare Krishna creationists possess many similarities to and differences from Biblical young Earth creationism.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Hare Krishna creationism
! Young Earth creationism
! Similar?
|-
| | Literalist interpretation of [[Vedas]]
| | [[Biblical literalism|Literalist interpretation]] of [[Bible]]
| | Yes
|-
| | Vedic Curse causes degeneration
| | [[Original sin]] / all [[sin]] causes degeneration
| | Yes
|-
| | [[Out-of-body experience]]s
| | [[NDE]] visits to [[afterlife]]
| | Yes
|-
| | Denies [[macroevolution]], supports [[microevolution]]
| | Denies macroevolution, supports microevolution
| | Yes
|-
| | Humanity, universe 1-2 billion years old
| | Humanity, universe 6-10 thousand years old
| | No
|-
| | Humans and "ape men" coexisted
| | "Ape men" never existed
| | No
|-
| | Aliens exist
| | Only earth has life
| | No
|-
| | Reincarnation
| | One life, one afterlife
| | No
|-
| | [[Pseudoscience|Pseudoscientific]] [[bullshit]] without [[scientific]] [[evidence]]
| | [[Pseudoscience|Pseudoscientific]] [[bullshit]] without [[scientific]] [[evidence]]
| | Yes
|-
|}

==See also==
*[[Hindutva]]
*[[Sanskrit]]

==External links==
*[http://scienceandscientist.org/Darwin/ Darwin Under Siege]
* https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19420889.2015.1123356

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{crebox}}
[[Category:Types of creationism]]
[[Category:Hinduism]]
[[Category:Pseudohistory]]

Categories: Types of creationism, Hinduism, Pseudohistory