Age Quote by Carl Sagan
“The Hindu religion is the only one of the world’s great faiths dedicated to the idea that the Cosmos itself undergoes an immense, indeed an infinite, number of deaths and rebirths. It is the only religion in which the time scales correspond, no doubt by accident, to those of modern scientific cosmology. Its cycles run from our ordinary day and night to a day and night of Brahma, 8.64 billion years long, longer than the age of the Earth or the Sun and about half the time since the Big Bang.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Cosmos by Carl Sagan, 1980
Hindu cosmology envisions endless cycles of creation and destruction, mirroring modern scientific ideas of a universe with repeated births and deaths.
In simple terms: The universe is seen as constantly rebirthing itself.
Key Takeaway
Consider how cyclical thinking can affect your view of change.
Themes
spirituality
cosmology
philosophy
science
eternity
Mood
wonderful
contemplative
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
inspirational
educational
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- academic study
- interfaith dialogue
- environmental planning
Key Concepts
Cyclical time
cosmic scale
religious metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- How does viewing the cosmos as cyclical influence your sense of purpose?
- What are the limits of comparing mythic cycles to scientific models?
A Different Perspective
The concept may oversimplify complex theological nuances.
![“In the Hindu religion, one can[not] have freedom of speech. A Hindu must surrender his freedom of speech. He must act according to the Vedas. If the Vedas do not support the actions, instructions must be sought from the Smritis, and if the Smritis fail to provide any such instructions, he must…” quote by B.R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/49b/b-r-ambedkar-2-27051_communication_in-the-hindu-religion-one-can-not-have-f_1093917.jpg)
![“[ When a religious couple wrote to Sagan about fulfilled prophecies, he wrote back in May 1996 :] If ‘fulfilled prophecy’ is your criterion, why do you not believe in materialistic science, which has an unparalleled record of fulfilled prophecy? Consider, for example, eclipses.” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/875/carl-sagan-160_belief_when-a-religious-couple-wrote-to-sagan-a_25095.jpg)
