Creation

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

Creation refers either to that which has been created, e.g. Mark 16:15, “Preach the Gospel to the whole creation,” or to the moment or process by which God created, e.g. Genesis is the creation account. This article deals with the second meaning, according to Christian faith. According the Gallup organization, thirty-eight percent of Americans of Americans are creationists.[1] In Europe, Switzerland has one of the highest rates of creationism.[2]

Creation science investigates how God brought the earth and universe into being. Young Earth Creationism demonstrates though multiple lines of evidence that the earth is approximately 6,000 years old. Old Earth Creationism, like atheistic evolutionary pseudoscience, claims that the earth and universe are billions of years old.

Creation scientists also demonstrate 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).[3] Theistic evolutionists accept an old Earth and believe that evolution occurred, but that it was God’s means of creation.

## Contents

* 1 Distinction between creation and Creator: God's transcendence
* 2 Famous Creationists
* 3 Creation in Non-Christian Religions
* 3.1 Creation in Judaism
* 3.2 Creation in Hinduism
* 3.3 Source of the Universe in Buddhism
* 3.4 Creation in Islam
* 3.5 Creation in Less Common Religions
* 4 Creationists in the world
* 5 Biblical creation magazines and journals
* 6 See also
* 7 External links
* 8 References

## Distinction between creation and Creator: God's transcendence[edit]

see also Existence

Main article: Transcendence

The first verse of the Bible distinguishes God from the heaven and the earth. The theological discussion of this distinction falls under the named topic of transcendence, and the key philosophical concept with regard to God and creation is the two categories of existence (with regard to causes, or rather sources, of being): a se—from itself and ab alio—from another. That is, God's existence is from God's self while creation's existence is from another.

## Famous Creationists[edit]

The late Dr. Henry Morris was the founder of the Institute for Creation Research (ICR), who coined the term “creation science” and began the modern creation science movement. He was a scientist and held a master's degree and a PhD in hydraulic engineering from the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Duane Gish

Dr. Duane Gish, now retired, was a scientist (chemistry), a member of ICR, and a prolific debater for the Young Earth creationist cause. Dr. Henry Morris said of Gish, “at least in our judgment and that of most in the audiences, he always wins.”

Dr. Carl Wieland with Creation Ministries International

Dr. Jonathan Sarfati is a scientist (chemistry), chess champion, and Young Earth creationist, who works for Creation Ministries International in Australia. He has written a number of books refuting evolutionary arguments and various theological arguments that try and accommodate evolution or an old Earth.

Ken Ham is a Young Earth creationist, a founder of the American branch of Answers in Genesis, and prime mover of the Petersburg, Kentucky Creation Museum.

Dr. Hugh Ross is a scientist (astronomy), a progressive creationist, and founder of Reasons to Believe. He considers nature to be the 67th book of the Bible.

## Creation in Non-Christian Religions[edit]

Most religions 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[edit]

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.[4]

### Creation in Hinduism[edit]

Hindus believe that Brahma, one of their three principal deities, created the universe, while Vishnu is the preserver of the universe.[5] Hinduism has its own form of evolution, and is generally considered to be compatible with the current "scientific" theory of evolution.[6]

### Source of the Universe in Buddhism[edit]

The Buddhist conception 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". 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 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 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, eternality, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, inscrutability and immutability.

### Creation in Islam[edit]

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.[7] "Young-Earth creationism is wholly absent in the Muslim world."[8]

### Creation in Less Common Religions[edit]

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.[9]) Here are some examples:[10][11]

* Babylonians believed that the heavens, Earth, and non-human life were created by Marduk, the four-eared, four-eyed giant who became ruler of the gods after defeating an army of dragons and monsters. These things were created from the body of Tiamat, who was a descendent of the water gods like Marduk, and who ruled the defeated army of dragons and monsters. Human life was created by Ea, god of the rivers, and Nintu, the birth-goddess, out of clay from the Earth and blood and spittle from other gods.

* According to Hopi Native Americans, the Creator, Taiowa, and his "nephew," Sotuknang, created the finite with four separate acts of creaton. 1) Gathering matter to create nine solid worlds. 2) Gathering waters to create seas. 3) Gathering air to make winds and breezes. 4) Creating life, starting with Spider Woman, who created all other life forms.

* Native Hawaiians believe that life forms of the sea, air, and land were created from the unions of various entites of darkness and half-darkness. Humanity came about through the union of La'ila'i (the first woman), Ki'i (the first man), and Kane (a god).

* The Mayans believed that everything was created by Tepu and Gucamatz. Whatever they thought about came into being. Advanced beings were created so that the creators could be praised. Advanced beings were first made of clay, then wood, but these did not work so they were wiped out in a flood. New beings were formed with the help of Mountain Lion, Coyote, Parrot, and Crow.

There are many other creation stories that are much longer and more complex.

## Creationists in the world[edit]

As described in a 2011 IPSOS [12] study.

|  Creationist  |  Evolutionist  |  Not sure

|
|
|

Saudi Arabia |  75%  |  7%  |  18%
Turkey |  60%  |  19%  |  20%
Indonesia |  57%  |  11%  |  32%
South Africa |  56%  |  18%  |  26%
Brazil |  47%  |  22%  |  31%
USA |  40% |  28% |  32%
Russia |  34%  |  26%  |  40%
India |  33%  |  39%  |  28%
Mexico |  32%  |  34%  |  34%
Argentina |  26%  |  37%  |  38%
Poland |  25%  |  38%  |  37%
South Korea |  24%  |  41%  |  35%
Canada |  22%  |  45%  |  33%
Italy |  21%  |  40%  |  39%
Australia |  15%  |  51%  |  34%
Hungary |  13%  |  55%  |  33%
Germany |  12%  |  65%  |  23%
United Kingdom |  12%  |  55%  |  34%
China |  11%  |  64%  |  25%
Spain |  11%  |  53%  |  37%
Japan |  10%  |  60%  |  30%
Sweden |  10%  |  68%  |  21%
France |  09%  |  55%  |  36%
Belgium |  08%  |  61%  |  31%
Total |  28% |  41% |  31%

Europe's rejection of biblical Christianity, which accepts biblical creationism, explains why Europe is such a mess at this time (see also: Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism).

## Biblical creation magazines and journals[edit]

See also: Biblical creation journals

Some prominent biblical creation magazines and journals are given below:

* Creation magazine

* Journal of Creation \- Peer reviewed

* Creation Research Society Quarterly Journal \- peer reviewed

## See also[edit]

* Creationism
* Evolution
* Creation vs. Evolution Videos
* Essay: Sharing your Christian/creationist videos on the internet
* Atheist Creationism
* Creation vs evolution essays
* Buddhist Creator Source of the Universe in Esoteric Mahayana Buddhism

## External links[edit]

* Creation by Answers in Genesis
* The International Association For Creation
* The Creation Network
* The Big Map of Creation
* Creation Ministries International
* Creation Revolution

v • d • e

Creation vs. evolution

Evolution|

Evolution • Evolutionism • Universal common ancestry • Social Darwinism • Eugenics • Evolutionary racism • Naturalism • Abiogenesis • Charles Darwin • Schools and evolution • Atheism and Evolution • Theory of evolution and liberalism • Theistic Evolution •

Hoaxes, Controversies, and Debates|

Theory of Evolution and Cases of Fraud, Hoaxes and Speculation • Piltdown Man •Starlight issue • Nebraska Man • Haeckel diagrams • Liberalism • Archaeoraptor

Creation science and Creationism|

Creationism • Intelligent Design • Creation Science • Christianity and Science • Baraminology • Flood Geology • Irreducible Complexity • Young Earth Creationism • Old Earth Creationism • Duane Gish • Creation •

## References[edit]

1. ↑ In US, Belief in Creationist View of Humans at New Low, Gallup organization
2. ↑ Switzerland, a beacon of European creationism, has the world's most competitive economy. Also, America (a land of creationists) is expected to dominate the world economy for years. Why are evolutionists such slackers?
3. ↑ http://www.creation.com/content/view/21
4. ↑ "Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design." Rabbinical Council of America. December 27, 2005. http://www.rabbis.org/news/article.cfm?id=100635
5. ↑ "Beliefs (Hinduism)." BBC. July 31, 2003. https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/beliefs/intro_1.shtml
6. ↑ Moorty, J.S.R.L.Narayana. "Science and Spirituality: Any Points of Contact?" 1995. http://www.well.com/user/jct/science.html
7. ↑ "The Origin of Life - an Islamic Perspective. Islam for Today. Accessed March 6, 2011." http://www.islamfortoday.com/emerick16.htm
8. ↑ 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
9. ↑ http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/myth
10. ↑ "Creation Myths" http://www.magictails.com/creationlinks.html
11. ↑ "Creation Stories from around the World" http://www.gly.uga.edu/railsback/CS/CSIndex.html
12. ↑ http://www.ipsos-na.com/download/pr.aspx?id=10670