Creationism: what it is and why it is controversial

In some regions, this doctrine is stronger than the scientific explanation of the world.

Since the dawn of humanity, human beings have tried to explain their presence in the world. Where we come from, where we are going, how we came to be what we are or why we exist are some of the questions that are still the subject of controversy and questioning today. Religion, the firm and science have tried to formulate the answers, at times giving rise to conflicts between the approaches of one and the other.

Among the attempts to explain reality from a religious point of view, we can find creationism as one of the best known and at present controversial and at the present time polemic by its total rejection to the evolutionary theory.

Creationism: what is it?

It is known as creationism to a set of different beliefs based on religious doctrine, whose main characteristic is the consideration that everything that exists in the universe has been the work of God.whose main characteristic is the consideration that everything that exists in the universe has been the work of God.

Although in principle any interpretation of reality that has this basis independently of the religion itself is creationist, creationism is generally known as that tendency or current of thought based on Catholicism and the Bible. based on Catholicism and the Bible..

Its opposition to Biological evolution

The most classical creationism is also characterized by the fact that it maintains a literal interpretation of the Bible and Genesis, denying the evolutionary theory. It considers that the beings that exist today are those that have existed since the beginning of time, not accepting that they have an evolutionary origin and discarding the existing evidence in this regard or reinterpreting them (for example, fossils may be proof of the existence of the universal flood).

For those who hold this theory literally, the Earth would not be more than ten thousand years old. Although the amount of evidence that contradicts this idea is overwhelming and belongs to different scientific fields (from geology to biology), among those who defend this vision of reality stand out men and women with university and scientific training, and their followers are not necessarily members of the clergy or with little education.

The main tenets of this version of creationism are the sudden creation of the entire universe and everything existing from nothing, the consideration that evolution does not exist and although there may be changes in organisms only occur within certain limits and without varying greatly the animals and plants, which are those that existed from the beginning of creation.

It also considers that the living beings that exist today are those that have always existed, and the orography of the Earth is explained by the presence of catastrophes such as the universal flood.

Intelligent design

The principles of the creationist theory are not very evident and sustainable at a scientific level, which is why in principle they should have little acceptance within the academic world. However, a theory based on creationism has subsequently arisen that has claimed to defend the creationist position with a language that has been used to to defend the creationist position with a language similar to the scientific one.The theory of intelligent design is proposed as a hypothesis.

In this case, it is proposed that the model of natural selection and evolution does not sufficiently explain the development and origin of living beings. does not sufficiently explain the development and origin of living organisms from a few organisms. It also proposes that the great biodiversity, the functioning of the universe and the natural laws leave evidence of the existence of a creator who has designed them with a purpose. It considers that chance cannot explain the existence of reality and that what exists implies a plan elaborated and designed by something or someone. However, this theory is not falsifiable, so it cannot be tested and therefore cannot be scientific.

Not all creationism is contrary to the theory of evolution.

Although the truth is that perhaps the best known type of creationism is anti-evolutionary creationism, precisely because of the controversy it provoked by denying the theory of evolution, the truth is that not all creationism is contrary to it.

In fact, there is a pro-evolutionary creationism, which, although it considers that the universe has its origin in a creator, accepts the existence of evolution andIn fact, there is a pro-evolutionary creationism that, although it considers that the universe has its origin in a creator, accepts the existence of evolution and the scientific theories that surround it, without denying its value. This shows that religious doctrine does not have to be opposed or opposed to science, but can be complementary.

An expanded vision in America

Probably many of you reading these lines will have heard on some occasion of the existence of a powerful conflict between evolutionary theory and creationism in America, (although from the scientific point of view there is no debate). The fact is that creationist theory has great power and expansion in the United States.years ago, it was taught in schools in such a way that the evolutionary theory was denied and not taught, under the denomination of intelligent design theory.

During the year 2004, however, the teaching of the theory of intelligent design in public schools was declared unconstitutional and prohibited, but this has not prevented this doctrine from continuing to exert a great influence at the academic level. Based on this prohibition, the idea of critical analysis of evolution was generated, which today continues to have a notable influence and even has even led to favorable laws being advocated.. From this modality in which it is not presented directly, the influence exerted by anti-evolutionary creationism has an effect generating doubts about evolution and other topics such as abortion or cloning.

The conflict that has arisen between the evolutionist and creationist perspectives has been an issue that can have considerable effects on society. However, on the other hand it allows a debate that can make both positions to be talked about and discussed, leaving in evidence the flaws and weaknesses that both may have.

Bibliographical references:

• Collado, S. (2009). Overview of the creationism-evolutionism debate in the last hundred years in the USA. Yearbook of Church History XVIII, 41-53.