Creationism

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Michelangelo's painting of the creation of the Sun and Moon.

Creationism is the belief that the earth and universe and the various kinds of animals and plants was created by God or some other supreme being. Those that hold the views of Creationism are referred to as Creationists.[1] Within creationism in the Abrahamic religions, there are various ideas. In regards to those religions, one form of creationism holds that the earth is approximately 6,000 years old and is referred to as Young Earth Creationism. The other form of creationism is called Old Earth Creationism and holds that the earth and universe are billions of years old. Creationist scientists believe that the first law of thermodynamics and second law of thermodynamics argue against an eternal universe and they also claim that these laws point to the universe being supernaturally created. [2] Dr. Norman Geisler stated that "Both young- and old-earthers believe that God supernaturally, directly and immediately produced every kind of animal and human as separate and genetically distinct forms of life." [3] Dr. Norman Geisler also wrote that "both young- and old-earthers who are evangelical hold to the historicity of the Genesis account: They believe that Adam and Eve were literal people, the progenitors of the entire human race." [4] Creation scientists assert that the theory of evolution is in conflict with the evidence provided by the physical sciences and often cite secular scientific sources which agree with them on various points (for further details please see: theory of evolution).[5]

Nearly every culture in the world has a creation story and a flood story. [6][7][8][9][10] Many of these creation accounts and flood accounts have commonalities with the account given in the book of Genesis although gross differences exist also. [11][12][13] The Institute for Creation Research has taken the position that the similarities in regards to creation accounts to the Genesis account demonstrates that the main points of the Genesis account has been preserved. [14] In regards to the assertion that the similarities in flood stories around the world show common origin, young earth creationist particularly assert that there are strong similarities between the Genesis flood account and other world flood accounts. [15][16]

Controversy

Creationism and Intelligent Design

Believers in the Abrahamic faiths believe that the the natural world has been designed by God. Recently, there has been articles which were favorable to the intelligent design position in scientific journals which traditionally have favored the macroevolutionary position.[17] Believers in the Abrahamic faiths have points of agreement and disagreement with the intelligent design movement. They agree that the natural world has an intelligent cause and was designed as mentioned previously. However, some advocates of of creationism believe that the intelligent design movement divorces the Creator from creation by not explicitly stating that the cause of creation is a supernatural being and also failing to state explicitly who that supenatural being is.[18]

There is considerable disagreement on whether or not Intelligent Design amounts to a form of creationism and if so, where to place it in comparison to the other forms of creationism. This is due to the concept having many different definitions and proponents espousing different ideas.

For example, one major proponent of Intelligent Design is Young Earth Creationist Paul Nelson, while Michael Behe, another major proponent, accepts common descent. William Dembski has stated unequivocally that Intelligent Design is not theistic evolution and they should not be considered the same[19]. Dembski has also asserted that Intelligent Design is the Logos in terms of information theory[20], while Dembski and others have given other definitions that do not include any specific theological references. Arguably, intelligent design can be summarized as the notion that at some point in the past, in some way, some entity (possibly God) created life, or altered life at some point, or created the universe to be compatible with life.

Behe and others have stated that Intelligent Design is not religious in nature but in the Dover trial, Judge John E. Jones III, a Republican and a US Federal District Judge, ruled as a one of his findings that Intelligent Design was essentially religious in nature. The opinion met with wide accolades, but some criticism that it borrowed too heavily from the ACLU's briefs. [21] Nonetheless, it has been embraced by the legal community, and has quickly become the subject of renewed scholarship on the scope of the First Amendment.[22]

Adherents and Opponents of Creationism

Traditionally, Judaism supported young earth creationism.[23] In addition, a majority of the early church fathers supported the young earth creationist view.[24] While Young Earth Creationism is prominent in many conservative Protestant denominations, theologically liberal Protestant and Jewish denominations generally reject it.[25][26][27] The Roman Catholic Church has a cautiously positive view of the theory of evolution. [28][29] Orthodox Judaism currently has diverse opinions regarding young earth creationism.[30] Ultra-Orthodox Judaism accepts young earth creationism.[31] Islam has a variety of opinions regarding creationism and the theory of evolution. [32]Atheists do not believe in young earth creationism and a vast majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the evolutionary position since World War II have been atheists.[33][34] While agnostics do not believe in young earth creationism there have been some notable statements of skepticism regarding the theory of evolution from agnostics.[35][36] On the other hand, Charles Darwin and Thomas Huxley were both staunch proponents of the theory of evolution and they both stated that they were agnostics. [37][38]

See also

External links

Young Earth Creationist Organizations

Old Earth Creationists

Reasons To Believe, an Old Earth Creationist Ministry

References

  1. ↑ "creationist." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 21 Mar. 2007. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/creationist>.
  2. ↑ Evidences for God From Space—Laws of Science
  3. ↑ http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/science/SC0305W3.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/science/SC0305W3.htm
  5. ↑ http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/21
  6. ↑ http://www.katapi.org.uk/BAndS/ChII.htm
  7. ↑ http://www.icr.org/article/108/
  8. ↑ http://www.icr.org/article/570/
  9. ↑ http://library.thinkquest.org/18757/creation.htm
  10. ↑ http://www.grisda.org/origins/17051.htm
  11. ↑ http://www.katapi.org.uk/BAndS/ChII.htm
  12. ↑ http://www.icr.org/article/108/
  13. ↑ http://www.icr.org/article/570/
  14. ↑ http://www.icr.org/article/108/
  15. ↑ http://www.icr.org/article/570/
  16. ↑ http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n2/flood-legends
  17. ↑ http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=2640
  18. ↑ http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v1/n1/intelligent-design-movement
  19. ↑ What every theologian should know about creation, evolution, and design Center for Interdisciplinary Studies Transactions 3(2), William Demsbki
  20. ↑ [1] Signs of Intelligence: A Primer on the Discernment of Intelligent Design Touchstone Magazine, Volume 12, Issue 4 July-August 1999
  21. ↑ [2]
  22. ↑ Richard B. Katskee, "Religion in Public Schools," 5 First Amend. L. Rev. 112 (2006)
  23. ↑ James-Griffiths, James,Creation days and Orthodox Jewish tradition Creation 26(2):53–55, March 2004.
  24. ↑ Bradshaw, Robert I., Creationism & the Early Church, chapter 3, The Days of Genesis 1.
  25. ↑ Morris, Henry, Old-Earth Creationism Back to Genesis April 1997.
  26. ↑ What Conservative Protestants Believe (beliefnet).
  27. ↑ Jarvik, Elaine, Beliefs on Darwin's evolution vary from religion to religion Deseret Morning News 19 January 2006.
  28. ↑ http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-04-11-pope-evolution-creation_N.htm
  29. ↑ Heneghan, Tom, Catholics and Evolution: Interview with Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (beliefnet).
  30. ↑ Rabbinical Council of America, Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design.
  31. ↑ Winnick, Pamela R.,Evolutionary War Toledo City Paper, March 7 2002.
  32. ↑ http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_151_200/muslim_responses_to_evolution.htm
  33. ↑ Batten, Don, A Who’s Who of evolutionists Creation 20(1):32 December 1997.
  34. ↑ http://www.creationists.org/nas.html
  35. ↑ Woodward, Thomas E., Doubts About Darwin (Apologetics Press).
  36. ↑ Agnostic Philosopher Caught in Conspiracy to Question Darwinism Evolution News & Views, (Discovery Institute).
  37. ↑ http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1025
  38. ↑ http://www.arn.org/docs/odesign/od171/desmond171.htm
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