creationism

American  

[kree-ey-shuh-niz-uhm] / kriˈeɪ ʃəˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. the doctrine that matter and all things were created, substantially as they now exist, by an omnipotent Creator, and not gradually evolved or developed.

2. (sometimes initial capital letter) the doctrine that the true story of the creation of the universe is as it is recounted in the Bible, especially in the first chapter of Genesis.

3. the doctrine that God immediately creates out of nothing a new human soul for each individual born.

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creationism British  

/ kriːˈeɪʃəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. the belief that God brings individual human souls into existence at conception or birth Compare traducianism

2. the doctrine that ascribes the origins of all things to God's acts of creation rather than to evolution

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creationism Cultural  

1. A literal belief in the biblical account of Creation as it appears in the Book of Genesis. Creationists believe that the creation of the world and all its creatures took place in six calendar days; they therefore deny the theory of evolution.

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Other Word Forms

• anticreationism noun
• anticreationist noun
• creationist noun
• creationistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of creationism

First recorded in 1840–50; creation + -ism

Example Sentences

Others have argued that intelligent design is just creationism in a new package.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 22, 2024

“I grew up in a young Earth creationism home, with a worldview that was based in evangelical Christianity and a literal translation of the Bible,” recalls the 42-year-old Townley.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 24, 2023

He was startled at the power that creationism and other religious beliefs had on public and political discourse.

From Washington Post • Mar. 7, 2023

He is a fierce opponent of the theory of evolution, and wrote a widely mocked book on creationism.

From BBC • Nov. 17, 2022

As compared with the ex nihilo creationism of orthodox theology, this theory is as light is to darkness.

From Bygone Beliefs: being a series of excursions in the byways of thought by Redgrove, H. Stanley (Herbert Stanley)