Editor's note: This story was originally published Feb. 13, 2009.

Hindus and Buddhists generally have no problem fitting evolution of plants, animals and humans into their understanding of the origin of life. But in other major faith traditions, there is a wide range of belief about the compatibility -- or irreconcilability -- of faith and evolution.

Jews » Jews have no trouble reconciling their faith with evolution, although some Orthodox Jews subscribe to a literal reading of the Torah, which would put the Earth at less than 10,000 years old.

Muslims » Muslims believe that God created the first humans, Adam and Eve, but are generally willing to consider that he may have used evolutionary processes to do so. Many early Muslim writings, in fact, describe life developing in an evolutionary way.

Fundamentalist Christians » This group, generally speaking, takes the Old Testament at its word, believing that God created the world -- and the first humans, Adam and Eve -- in six days 6,000 years ago. To them, reading the Bible in any way but literally undermines Scripture's authority. It may not be a scientific textbook, but the Bible is right when it talks about science, they say.

Baptists and Southern Baptists » They may vary in their beliefs about the age of the Earth, but few accept that humans evolved from other species.

Mormons » While Latter-day Saints generally accept evolution -- it is taught and researched at the church-owned Brigham Young University, for instance -- the First Presidency's 100-year-old statement "The Origin of Man" included anti-evolution sentiments.

Other Christian denominations » Many mainstream Christian groups allow broader interpretations of biblical stories and essentially figure that faith and science are two separate domains. It may be, they say, that God uses evolution to create living things. Many remain open to the notion that humans evolved from other species, but hold that God at some point gave humans souls. Among those largely accepting evolution are Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists and Presbyterians.

--Kristen Moulton