Scientific evidence suggests
that life began on Earth
approximately 3.5 billion years ago.
The mechanism by which life emerged on Earth is unknown although many hypotheses have been formulated. Since then, life has evolved into a
wide variety of forms, which biologists have classified into a hierarchy of taxa. Life can survive and thrive in a wide range of
conditions. The meaning
of life—its significance, origin, purpose, and
ultimate fate—is a central concept and question in philosophy andreligion. Both
philosophy and religion have offered interpretations as to how life relates to existence and consciousness, and on related issues such as life stance, purpose,conception of a god or gods, a soul or an afterlife. Different cultures throughout history have had widely
varying approaches to these issues.
