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| '''Creationism''' is |
'''Creationism''' is the belief that, contrary to accepted ], species were created directly by God through supernatural means, rather than having ]. Creationism in this sense is primarily found among conservative Christians, although conservative members of other religions hold to it as well. In the West today, it is founded mainly in the ], although creationists have smaller presences in other countries. | ||
| As the term is normally used, the term creationism refers to more than just the belief that God created the universe; it refers to the belief that he did so in such a way that evolution did not occur, as accepted by science. It is possible to believe that God created the universe and still accept the theory of evolution; many religious believers hold to this view. One can believe that God created the universe, and life and humans evolved within this creation, without divine interference. (Generally speaking, this is related to a ] conception). One can also believe that God guided the process of evolution, so long as this is not put forward as a scientific explanation for it. Either view, while in no way required by the theory of evolution, is not incompatible with it. (For discussion of the belief that God created the universe, see ].) | |||
| Particularly when rooted in Judeo-Christian Biblical literalism, creationism is usually expressed as opposition to the ] model of life on Earth. Creationism in this sense is primarily a ] phenomenon, although it can be found in other countries as well. This form of Creationism was an integral part of the ] of ]. | |||
| ⚫ | It is important to clarify what parts of the evolutionary model creationists do not agree with. Current creationist thinking embraces natural selection and small changes in species, which is sometimes termed ]. Creationists do not, however, agree that the major divisions of life were derived through the same process (]). Typically, they do not believe that all life is derived from a single-celled ancestor, that mammals are descendents of reptiles, or that man descended from apes. A common argument made is that all solid examples of evolution are in fact examples solely of microevolution. Rather than using the term "species", they use the term "created kinds" to describe the boundaries they believe evolution does not cross, but they offer no rigorous (or operational) definition of what a "created kind" is. | ||
| In one sense it is possible to be an evolutionary creationist: one can believe that a supreme being created the universe and also hold that life (and humans) evolved within this creation. (Generally speaking, this is related to a ] conception). | |||
| Modern creationism is generally rooted in biblical literalism. Evolution is opposed on the grounds that it conflicts with the account of creation given in '']'', where the earth is created by God in six days. However, even creationists disagree on the interpretation of these passages. Young Earth creationists believe that the account given is of the creation of the earth, while Old Earth creationists believe it only refers to the creation of life on a pre-existing Earth. | |||
| It can also be held that a supreme being guided the process of ]. This latter option, however--if it is construed as being part of a scientific explanation--might well be held up to criticism, since it seems to violate the ] that scientific enquiry be built upon a foundation of ]. Those theists who don't hold that the scientific method must be used to describe things that are ] have no disagreement with this 'Supreme Being guided evolution'. | |||
| Many Christians hold that these passages are not to be interpreted literally, but are rather a symbolic or poetic account of the creation of the universe. Others believe that they are based on the prevailing scientific ideas of the time they were written, and that only the moral and religious, as opposed to the scientific, content of the Bible is inspired. Some, in an attempt to harmonize science with biblical literalism, hold that the six days referred to are not ordinary 24 hour days, but rather much longer periods (of thousands or millions of years); the Genesis account is then interpreted as an account of the process of evolution. | |||
| ⚫ | It is important to clarify what parts of the evolutionary model |
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| Creationists defend their views not only on religious grounds, but with the rise of so-called 'scientific creationism' have taken to defending them on scientific grounds as well. They argue that the scientific evidence does not support evolution, and that creation of the universe by God is the more tenable scientific hypothesis. Most scientists do not accept the creationist's evaluation of the evidence, and reject creation by God as being a valid scientific (as opposed to religious) hypothesis. | |||
| The majority of practising scientists, theologians and philosophers of science believe scientific creationism and ] to be untenable, either because these views are scientifically unsupported and unverifiable, or because they are considered outright nonsense. | |||
| Creationists |
Creationists also resort to more philosophical arguments, such as that evolutionary theory is as rooted in faith as their own views are. | ||
| See also ], ] | |||
| Evolutionary scientists, at this point in the debate, usually argue that science does not claim any absolute truths but learns from its own failures and incompleteness, and that creationists do not present anything which would qualify as a falsifiable theory. | |||
| As of 2001, Neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory is the position of scientific orthodoxy. Anti-evolutionists represent a challenge to this orthodox position. | |||
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| <b>Creationism</b> also refers to the belief that each ] is created individually by God, as opposed to ], which holds that the souls of infants are derived from those of their parents. Another theory of the soul is known as ]. | <b>Creationism</b> also refers to the belief that each ] is created individually by God, as opposed to ], which holds that the souls of infants are derived from those of their parents. Another theory of the soul is known as ]. | ||
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Revision as of 06:21, 28 November 2001
Creationism is the belief that, contrary to accepted science, species were created directly by God through supernatural means, rather than having evolved. Creationism in this sense is primarily found among conservative Christians, although conservative members of other religions hold to it as well. In the West today, it is founded mainly in the United States, although creationists have smaller presences in other countries.
As the term is normally used, the term creationism refers to more than just the belief that God created the universe; it refers to the belief that he did so in such a way that evolution did not occur, as accepted by science. It is possible to believe that God created the universe and still accept the theory of evolution; many religious believers hold to this view. One can believe that God created the universe, and life and humans evolved within this creation, without divine interference. (Generally speaking, this is related to a deistic conception). One can also believe that God guided the process of evolution, so long as this is not put forward as a scientific explanation for it. Either view, while in no way required by the theory of evolution, is not incompatible with it. (For discussion of the belief that God created the universe, see creation.)
It is important to clarify what parts of the evolutionary model creationists do not agree with. Current creationist thinking embraces natural selection and small changes in species, which is sometimes termed microevolution. Creationists do not, however, agree that the major divisions of life were derived through the same process (macroevolution). Typically, they do not believe that all life is derived from a single-celled ancestor, that mammals are descendents of reptiles, or that man descended from apes. A common argument made is that all solid examples of evolution are in fact examples solely of microevolution. Rather than using the term "species", they use the term "created kinds" to describe the boundaries they believe evolution does not cross, but they offer no rigorous (or operational) definition of what a "created kind" is.
Modern creationism is generally rooted in biblical literalism. Evolution is opposed on the grounds that it conflicts with the account of creation given in Genesis, where the earth is created by God in six days. However, even creationists disagree on the interpretation of these passages. Young Earth creationists believe that the account given is of the creation of the earth, while Old Earth creationists believe it only refers to the creation of life on a pre-existing Earth.
Many Christians hold that these passages are not to be interpreted literally, but are rather a symbolic or poetic account of the creation of the universe. Others believe that they are based on the prevailing scientific ideas of the time they were written, and that only the moral and religious, as opposed to the scientific, content of the Bible is inspired. Some, in an attempt to harmonize science with biblical literalism, hold that the six days referred to are not ordinary 24 hour days, but rather much longer periods (of thousands or millions of years); the Genesis account is then interpreted as an account of the process of evolution.
Creationists defend their views not only on religious grounds, but with the rise of so-called 'scientific creationism' have taken to defending them on scientific grounds as well. They argue that the scientific evidence does not support evolution, and that creation of the universe by God is the more tenable scientific hypothesis. Most scientists do not accept the creationist's evaluation of the evidence, and reject creation by God as being a valid scientific (as opposed to religious) hypothesis.
Creationists also resort to more philosophical arguments, such as that evolutionary theory is as rooted in faith as their own views are.
See also Scopes Trial, creation
Creationism also refers to the belief that each soul is created individually by God, as opposed to traducianism, which holds that the souls of infants are derived from those of their parents. Another theory of the soul is known as Pre-existence.
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