Creationist

Creationism is the belief that the universe, the Earth, and life were created by a divine being, as described in sacred texts. A creationist is a person who endorses these beliefs, typically within a religious community. The term is usually used in contrast with naturalistic scientific explanations of origins.

Within creationism, several positions exist. Young Earth Creationism asserts a recent origin of Earth (roughly 6,000–10,000 years ago) with a literal 24-hour interpretation of the creation days. Old Earth Creationism accepts an ancient Earth and may view creation as a series of acts over long periods. Progressive Creationism blends evolution with periodic acts of creation. Theistic evolution, or evolutionary creationism, holds that God guides or uses natural evolutionary processes. Intelligent Design argues that certain features indicate a deliberate designer; many scholars consider it a form of creationism rather than science.

Contemporary science supports naturalistic explanations for origins, and most scientists view creationist positions as religious or philosophical. In public policy, debates have arisen about teaching creationism or intelligent design in schools; in the United States, court cases such as Kitzmiller v. Dover (2005) found that ID is not science and cannot be taught as such in public schools.

Various organizations promote creationist views, including Answers in Genesis, the Institute for Creation Research, and the Creation Research Society. The term "creationist" thus covers a range of beliefs about how life and the universe began, from strict literal readings to more theistic interpretations compatible with established science.