Creationism
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[[image:XKCDonCreationism.jpg|thumb|right|200px|<center>A wise man once said...</center>]] | [[image:XKCDonCreationism.jpg|thumb|right|200px|<center>A wise man once said...</center>]] | ||
'''Creationism''' (also known as [[bullshit]]<ref>By the very vocal 15 to 45% (depending on who conducts the poll) of the US population and a minumum of 50% of scientists who believe that evolution occurred without God's direction, as well as the 60 or so percent that say evolution occurred (and God may or may not have intervened),</ref>), is a [[teleology|teleologic]] explanation of existence, specifically: that all the universe and life was directly created by [[God]] (i.e. through [[magic]]<ref>By which some creationists would refer to [[Arthur C. Clarke]]'s statement that "all sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" --- if you're not smart enough to understand it.</ref>, not [[Big Bang]], [[abiogenesis]] or evolution), and that there is a purpose to all creation. Belief in a literal reading of [[Genesis]] is foundational to creationism, a tenet shared by fundamentalist version of [[Christianity]], [[Judaism]], and [[Islam]], and popularized by the American Christian [[fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] movement. In recent years, there have been attempts to come up with scientific rationalizations for these beliefs. [[Intelligent Design]], [[creation science]], and [[Cdesign proponentsists|cdesign proponentsism]] are three labels that have been applied to creationism in an attempt to create scientific legitimacy. The [[Discovery Institute]] is the leader in finding quasi-scientific rationale for creationism through the [[Wedge strategy]]. | '''Creationism''' (also known as [[bullshit]]<ref>By the very vocal 15 to 45% (depending on who conducts the poll) of the US population and a minumum of 50% of scientists who believe that evolution occurred without God's direction, as well as the 60 or so percent that say evolution occurred (and God may or may not have intervened),</ref>), is a [[teleology|teleologic]] explanation of existence, specifically: that all the universe and life was directly created by [[God]] (i.e. through [[magic]]<ref>By which some creationists would refer to [[Arthur C. Clarke]]'s statement that "all sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" --- if you're not smart enough to understand it.</ref>, not [[Big Bang]], [[abiogenesis]] or evolution), and that there is a purpose to all creation. Belief in a literal reading of [[Genesis]] is foundational to creationism, a tenet shared by fundamentalist version of [[Christianity]], [[Judaism]], and [[Islam]], and popularized by the American Christian [[fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] movement. In recent years, there have been attempts to come up with scientific rationalizations for these beliefs. [[Intelligent Design]], [[creation science]], and [[Cdesign proponentsists|cdesign proponentsism]] are three labels that have been applied to creationism in an attempt to create scientific legitimacy. The [[Discovery Institute]] is the leader in finding quasi-scientific rationale for creationism through the [[Wedge strategy]]. | ||
Revision as of 18:35, 18 February 2008
Creationism (also known as bullshit[1]), is a teleologic explanation of existence, specifically: that all the universe and life was directly created by God (i.e. through magic[2], not Big Bang, abiogenesis or evolution), and that there is a purpose to all creation. Belief in a literal reading of Genesis is foundational to creationism, a tenet shared by fundamentalist version of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and popularized by the American Christian fundamentalist movement. In recent years, there have been attempts to come up with scientific rationalizations for these beliefs. Intelligent Design, creation science, and cdesign proponentsism are three labels that have been applied to creationism in an attempt to create scientific legitimacy. The Discovery Institute is the leader in finding quasi-scientific rationale for creationism through the Wedge strategy.
The word "creationism" is very often used as a synonym for "young earth creationism" on this site, since the other varieties of creationism are usually benign.
Contents |
Categories
Creationists can be categorized in a number of ways, including:
- Religion: Creationists can be of virtually any religious stripe, from fundamentalist Christians to Pastafarians - or (in the case of alien life seeding) of no religion at all.
- Interpretation of Genesis: Young earth creationists believe Genesis is historically and scientifically accurate. No one else does.
- Age of the Earth: Most sane people think, based on voluminous evidence, that the Earth is billions of years old. Young earth creationists believe that Earth is almost exactly 6,000 years old.
- Identity of creator: Biblical creationists believe the creator was the God of the Bible, or YHWH. Advocates of (un)intelligent design commit bald-faced lies in public - and even commit perjury - relative to their concept of the identity of the creator.[3] Extraterrestrial creationists believe that creation was performed by beings from another planet, or beyond the solar system, who came to earth by accident or on a life-seeding mission across the galaxy.
Old earth creationism
Main article: Old earth creationism
Old earth creationists accept conventional dating methods for the age of the Earth (deep time), including radiometric dating and ice-core dating. Nevertheless, they believe that life was deliberately created. Evolutionary Creationists believe the creation event took place, and life subsequently developed through the process of evolution. Day-Age creationists believe the creation took place as recorded in Genesis, but that each of the "days" represents a vast period of time. Gap creationists believe that the Earth was created millions of years ago, but then laid waste, and repopulated as recorded in Genesis 1:2 and on. Other OECs believe that Genesis records the terraforming of the Earth, rather than the creation of the Earth ex nihilo.
Young earth creationism
Main article: Young earth creationism
YEC rejects radiometric dating methods based on criticisms of the method, and instead accepts Ussherian calculations of the creation. While they acknowledge that microevolution occurs, they reject naturalistic abiogenesis and common descent, based on a number of criticisms of both concepts. Instead, they believe that God created various lifeforms in something resembling their present forms, and that microevolution subsequently led to a degree of diversification among species.
Some also believe that the universe itself is only 6,000 years old. In these cases, physical constants, such as the speed of light, are often reinterpreted as "inconstant" to explain phenomena such as distant starlight.
Intelligent Design
Main article: Intelligent Design
Intelligent Design (ID) is an idea fundamental to the "mainstreaming" of creationism. It is the teleologic argument or belief that complexity requires design. Emergence and complexity theory are inherently incompatible with ID.
Two Creation Stories
According to Genesis 1, God creates the world in six days, resting on the seventh, with Man and Woman being created simultaneously, after the plants and animals. However, according to Genesis 2, God creates Man, then the plants and animals, then Woman. Which is right? RationalWiki editors eagerly await a reply from creationists.
References and footnotes
- ↑ By the very vocal 15 to 45% (depending on who conducts the poll) of the US population and a minumum of 50% of scientists who believe that evolution occurred without God's direction, as well as the 60 or so percent that say evolution occurred (and God may or may not have intervened),
- ↑ By which some creationists would refer to Arthur C. Clarke's statement that "all sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" --- if you're not smart enough to understand it.
- ↑ See Cdesign proponentsists.
See also
- The incontrovertible evidence of common descent
- Lists of pseudosciences
- Pseudoscience
- Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District
- Creation Week
- Willful ignorance
- List of scientists who became creationists after studying the evidence
- Fundamentalist debate tactics
- Evidence against a recent creation
- Creationism in Schools
External links
- A list of Things Creationists Hate. It's a BIG list.
- Lewis Black explains Creationist Bullshit