The term ‘creationism’, not used widely until the late 19th century, originally referred to the ‘belief’ that the universe was brought into being by a creator, described in the three Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) as God. However, since the middle of the 20th century and especially since the 1980s, the term has evolved to take on the specific meaning that the creation of the universe occurred exactly as described in ancient scriptures, for example, the early chapters of the book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament of the Christian Bible) and in the Qur’an.

Significant numbers of adherents of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam do not accept the standard scientific account of evolution. This entry examines the origins and outworking of creationism ...