Creationism

/kriːˈeɪʃənɪzəm/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The belief that the universe and living organisms originate from specific acts of divine creation, as opposed to the scientific theory of evolution.

Creationism is often taught in religious schools as an alternative to Darwinian evolution.

A specific theological perspective that asserts the account of creation in the Bible is a literal explanation of the origin of life and the universe.

Many proponents of creationism argue that the biblical account of creation is a historical fact.

A movement that advocates for the teaching of creationist views in public education alongside evolutionary biology.

The debate over the inclusion of creationism in school curricula has been a contentious issue for decades.

Derived from the Latin 'creatio', meaning 'creation', combined with the suffix '-ism' indicating a belief or theory.

scientific creationism

A viewpoint that attempts to provide scientific evidence for creationist beliefs.

creationist movement

A social and political movement advocating for creationism in public education and policy.

young Earth creationism

The belief that the Earth is relatively young, typically less than 10,000 years old, based on literal interpretations of biblical chronology.

evolution

The scientific theory that species arise and develop through natural processes over time.

theism

The belief in the existence of a god or gods, particularly a creator who intervenes in the universe.

naturalism

The philosophical belief that everything arises from natural properties and causes.

Creationalism

Some people colloquially refer to creationism as 'creationalism' when discussing the concept.

Geno-Geo education

In some circles, a joke emerges around how creationists try to introduce 'geno-geo education' into schools.