Creationism is a term with a variety of meanings. Most generally, creationism is the belief that the universe was originally created by God.[http://www.creationism.org/english/index.htm]. Creationism can also mean a belief in a creation according to a literal interpretation of Genesis. Some forms of creationism (especially the more literal forms) conflict with [[evolution|evolutionary ideas]] while others do not.[http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v11/i4/christian.asp]. Not all Christian denominations embrace creationism, for example, Pope Pius XII stated that "there was no opposition between evolution and the doctrine of the faith" <ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02tc.htm John Paul II, "Truth Cannot Contradict Truth, 1996]</ref>. Many non-Christian sects also have creationist origin stories, including American Indian religions, Hindus, and the Classical Greek and Egyptian polytheistic religions.
== Types of Creationists ==
*[[Old Earth Creationists]] Agree with the common scientific age of the earth at around 4.5 billion years but generally do not accept that all life on earth evolved from a common ancestor. Old Earth Creationists generally reconcile the age of the earth with Genesis by positing that the days in Genesis were not 24 hour days or by inserting gaps between various verses in the Bible. There is no general agreement among Old Earth Creationists on whether or not there was a global flood. An example of a major Old Earth Creationist ministry is Reasons to Believe [http://www.reasons.org].
*[[Theistic Evolution]] is the belief that God created the universe and did not intervene directly in physical evolution. In general, theistic evolution accepts the age of the earth and common descent. Theistic evolutionists believe that at some point God intervened in a metaphysical fashion to give souls to some small group of human ancestors. This is the position proposed by Catholic theologians <ref>[[http://www.newadventcatholic.orgnet/libraryRCC/docs_jp02tcPeriodicals/Dossier/0102-97/Article3.htm John Paul II, "Truth Cannot Contradict Truth, 1996html]]</ref>: "The Roman Catholic Church has accepted evolution as long as it doesn't exclude God from the creative process, in particular from the creation of the human soul."
== Controversial Classification ==