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| '''Creationism''' is the belief that ] and ] ] 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. | '''Creationism''' is the belief that ] and ] ] were created directly by God through supernatural means, rather than having ] (see also ]. 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. | ||
| Creationism is not a part of the standard ] model of the history of life on Earth. | Creationism is not a part of the standard ] model of the history of life on Earth. | ||
Revision as of 17:31, 29 November 2001
Creationism is the belief that animal and plant species were created directly by God through supernatural means, rather than having evolved (see also evolution. 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.
Creationism is not a part of the standard scientific model of the history of life on Earth.
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.
Don't forget that there are two major kinds of Creationism: Sudden Creationism and Intelligent Design.
Sudden Creationism is the religious doctrine that God created everything in a very short period of time (one week) a relatively short time ago (six thousand years). What He created includes the artifacts known as fossils, which would in this view not comprise a 'record' of any sort.
Intelligent Design is the scientific hypotheses that evolution, i.e, the appearance of new species over time, really did happen. Its cause was not random genetic mutation but intervention by a divine force.
Sudden Creationism is not a scientific theory because it interprets the only evidence available (fossils) according to pre-conceived doctrine. Intelligent design is a viable hypothesis because it fits the facts rather than interpreting them away.
The difference between Intelligent Design and Darwinism is the change agent. While Darwinists regard God as not being involved in evolution (often because of His presumed non-existence), advocates of Intelligent Design regard God as being involved.
-- Ed Poor
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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