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Most [[religion]]s of the world have their own versions of creation, some of which are similar to Christian beliefs and some of which are very different. The following discussions are presented in [[chronological]] order from older religions to more recent religions such as [[Islam]].

Most [[religion]]s of the world have their own versions of creation, some of which are similar to Christian beliefs and some of which are very different. The following discussions are presented in [[chronological]] order from older religions to more recent religions such as [[Islam]].

==Creation in Judaism==

===Creation in Judaism===

The teachings of [[Judaism]] are based on Genesis, as in Christianity; however, significant [[liberal]] Jewish authorities also believe in the [[theory of evolution]], and that this theory is not incompatible with biblical accounts of creation.<ref>"Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design." Rabbinical Council of America. December 27, 2005.  http://www.rabbis.org/news/article.cfm?id=100635</ref>  

The teachings of [[Judaism]] are based on Genesis, as in Christianity; however, significant [[liberal]] Jewish authorities also believe in the [[theory of evolution]], and that this theory is not incompatible with biblical accounts of creation.<ref>"Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design." Rabbinical Council of America. December 27, 2005.  http://www.rabbis.org/news/article.cfm?id=100635</ref>  

==Creation in Hinduism==

===Creation in Hinduism===

[[Hindus]] believe that [[Brahma]], one of their three principal [[deity|deities]], created the universe, while [[Vishnu]] is the preserver of the universe.<ref>"Beliefs (Hinduism)." BBC. July 31, 2003. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/beliefs/intro_1.shtml</ref> Hinduism has its own form of evolution, and is generally considered to be compatible with the current "scientific" theory of evolution.<ref>Moorty, J.S.R.L.Narayana. "Science and Spirituality: Any Points of Contact?" 1995. http://www.well.com/user/jct/science.html</ref>

[[Hindus]] believe that [[Brahma]], one of their three principal [[deity|deities]], created the universe, while [[Vishnu]] is the preserver of the universe.<ref>"Beliefs (Hinduism)." BBC. July 31, 2003. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/beliefs/intro_1.shtml</ref> Hinduism has its own form of evolution, and is generally considered to be compatible with the current "scientific" theory of evolution.<ref>Moorty, J.S.R.L.Narayana. "Science and Spirituality: Any Points of Contact?" 1995. http://www.well.com/user/jct/science.html</ref>

==Source of the Universe in Buddhism==

===Source of the Universe in Buddhism===

The Buddhist [[concept]]ion of the "[[source]]", [[substratum]], "[[womb]]" or "[[matrix]]" of the universe is referred to by the [[Sanskrit]] term "Garbha" as seen in one of the three Sanskrit words for the "[[ultimate]]": 1. "Dharmakaya", 2.  "Tathagata Garbha" and 3. "Dharma Dhatu". These three words are all represented by the word "[[Dharma#2._Dharmakaya_-_Tathagata_Garbha_-_Dharma_Dhatu_as_Source_of_the_Universe|Dharma]]".  These are the [[ultimate]] [[reality]] that one realizes at [[enlightenment]]. These three Sanskrit words (especially "Dharmakaya") is the closest concept that [[Mahayana]] Buddhism has that fairly closely resembles the [[Judaism|Judeo]]-[[Christian]] "[[creator]] [[God]]" although it is not accepted by [[Theravada]] Buddhists and is not well known among most common Buddhists who are neither serious scholars nor practitioners of the religion. This is why both many non-Buddhists and [[liberal]] beginner "Buddhists in name only" (see [[RINO]]) especially in America, misunderstand Buddhism thinking it denies the existence of God or a primary [[causation|causative]] being of the [[universe]]. Those who suggest this misconception have not studied Buddhist esoteric [[Sutra]] teachings on these three terms "Dharmakaya" - "Tathagata Garbha" - "Dharma Dhatu". These terms imply [[timeless]], [[eternal]]ity, [[omniscience]], [[omnipotence]], [[omnipresence]], [[inscrutable|inscrutability]] and [[immutability]].

The Buddhist [[concept]]ion of the "[[source]]", [[substratum]], "[[womb]]" or "[[matrix]]" of the universe is referred to by the [[Sanskrit]] term "Garbha" as seen in one of the three Sanskrit words for the "[[ultimate]]": 1. "Dharmakaya", 2.  "Tathagata Garbha" and 3. "Dharma Dhatu". These three words are all represented by the word "[[Dharma#2._Dharmakaya_-_Tathagata_Garbha_-_Dharma_Dhatu_as_Source_of_the_Universe|Dharma]]".  These are the [[ultimate]] [[reality]] that one realizes at [[enlightenment]]. These three Sanskrit words (especially "Dharmakaya") is the closest concept that [[Mahayana]] Buddhism has that fairly closely resembles the [[Judaism|Judeo]]-[[Christian]] "[[creator]] [[God]]" although it is not accepted by [[Theravada]] Buddhists and is not well known among most common Buddhists who are neither serious scholars nor practitioners of the religion. This is why both many non-Buddhists and [[liberal]] beginner "Buddhists in name only" (see [[RINO]]) especially in America, misunderstand Buddhism thinking it denies the existence of God or a primary [[causation|causative]] being of the [[universe]]. Those who suggest this misconception have not studied Buddhist esoteric [[Sutra]] teachings on these three terms "Dharmakaya" - "Tathagata Garbha" - "Dharma Dhatu". These terms imply [[timeless]], [[eternal]]ity, [[omniscience]], [[omnipotence]], [[omnipresence]], [[inscrutable|inscrutability]] and [[immutability]].

==Creation in Islam==

===Creation in Islam===

[[Muslims]] attribute creation of the universe to [[Allah]]. The [[Qur'an]] does not have one cohesive story of creation, but it does say that the Earth and the rest of the universe were created over six "days," which may not be the same length of time as a modern day.<ref>"The Origin of Life - an Islamic Perspective. Islam for Today. Accessed March 6, 2011." http://www.islamfortoday.com/emerick16.htm</ref> "Young-Earth creationism is wholly absent in the Muslim world."<ref>Hameed, Salman. "Bracing for Islamic Creationism." December 12, 2008. Science Magazine, Vol. 322 pp. 1637-1638. http://helios.hampshire.edu/~sahCS/Hameed-Science-Creationism.pdf</ref>  

[[Muslims]] attribute creation of the universe to [[Allah]]. The [[Qur'an]] does not have one cohesive story of creation, but it does say that the Earth and the rest of the universe were created over six "days," which may not be the same length of time as a modern day.<ref>"The Origin of Life - an Islamic Perspective. Islam for Today. Accessed March 6, 2011." http://www.islamfortoday.com/emerick16.htm</ref> "Young-Earth creationism is wholly absent in the Muslim world."<ref>Hameed, Salman. "Bracing for Islamic Creationism." December 12, 2008. Science Magazine, Vol. 322 pp. 1637-1638. http://helios.hampshire.edu/~sahCS/Hameed-Science-Creationism.pdf</ref>  

==Creation in Less Common Religions==

===Creation in Less Common Religions===

Versions of creation in ancient, indigenous, Eastern [[shamanic]], and relatively obscure religions are often referred to as "creation stories" or "creation myths." (Note: in this usage, the word "myth" does not necessarily imply that the story is untrue, but that it is a traditional or legendary story.<ref>http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/myth</ref>) Here are some examples:<ref>"Creation Myths" http://www.magictails.com/creationlinks.html</ref><ref>"Creation Stories from around the World" http://www.gly.uga.edu/railsback/CS/CSIndex.html</ref>

Versions of creation in ancient, indigenous, Eastern [[shamanic]], and relatively obscure religions are often referred to as "creation stories" or "creation myths." (Note: in this usage, the word "myth" does not necessarily imply that the story is untrue, but that it is a traditional or legendary story.<ref>http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/myth</ref>) Here are some examples:<ref>"Creation Myths" http://www.magictails.com/creationlinks.html</ref><ref>"Creation Stories from around the World" http://www.gly.uga.edu/railsback/CS/CSIndex.html</ref>