Special creation

Special creation describes a mechanism for producing life on earth that is promoted by "special creationists" following an agenda known as "special creationism". In general, special creation is a type of creation myth. However, special creation has different meanings in different contexts.

Duane Gish of the Institute for Creation Research defined "special creation" as being creation using supernatural processes:The Creation Research Society requires that members agree to a set of beliefs, including, "Evolution did not happen. Rather, the earth and the rest of the universe came into existence by special creation, as described in the Bible." [ [http://www.religioustolerance.org/ev_statc.htm "WHAT IS CREATION SCIENCE? PARTLY BASED ON ARKANSAS ACT #590"] , Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance.]

Dennis Jensen of the American Scientific Affiliation states that "Special creation" means that complex living things did not descend from simpler ones but were created independently." [ [http://www.asa3.org/ASA/PSCF/1999/PSCF3-99Jensen.html "Pain, Pleasure and Evolution: An Analysis of Paul Draper's Critique of Theism"] , Dennis Jensen, Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 51.1 (March 1999): 40-46)]

James B. Stenson writes that for fundamentalists, "special creation" follows from a literal reading of the Genesis account; there is a "special creation" of each separate species in six 24 hour days, starting a few thousand years ago. [http://www.ewtn.com/library/HUMANITY/EVOLUTN.TXT "EVOLUTION: A CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE"] , James B. Stenson, Catholic Position Papers, Series A, Number 116, March, 1984, Japan Edition, Seido Foundation for the Advancement of Education, 12-6 Funado-Cho, Ashiya-Shi Japan.]

The Vatican has defined "special creation" in a different way. The Pontifical Biblical Commission issued a decree ratified by Pope Pius X on June 30, 1909 that "special creation" only applied to man, not to the other species.

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