creationism

Creationism is a term used for religious beliefs that attribute the origin of the universe, Earth, and life to a supernatural creator. Creationist views typically oppose or reinterpret scientific explanations such as the Big Bang and biological evolution, framing nature and humanity as the result of intentional acts. While diverse in detail, most creationist positions place some form of divine intervention at the beginning of creation, and commonly rely on sacred texts for support. In scientific discourse, creationism is usually treated as a religious or philosophical position rather than a testable theory.

Major forms include young Earth creationism (YEC), which holds that Earth is only thousands of years old and that biblical genealogies are literal; old Earth creationism (OEC), which accepts an ancient cosmos but asserts direct divine action in creation; and progressive creationism or day-age creationism, which proposes multiple acts of creation over geological time. Another related view is intelligent design, which argues that certain biological features imply an intelligent cause but does not specify the designer or dating. Critics argue that ID is a form of creationism repackaged for the science classroom.

Historically, creationist ideas recur in many religious traditions and gained contemporary prominence as science expanded into geology and biology in the 18th–20th centuries. In the United States, creationism has played a role in education policy and culture wars. Notable legal cases include the Scopes Trial (1925), Epperson v. Arkansas (1968), Edwards v. Aguillard (1987), and Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District (2005), in which the courts ruled that teaching creationism or intelligent design as science in public schools is unconstitutional or not science.

Supporters view creationism as addressing questions of meaning, purpose, and human origins framed by religious teachings, while critics contend that it misrepresents and undermines established science. The debate continues in some schools, communities, and countries where science education and religious beliefs intersect.