Special creation
Term for divine origin of universe or human soul.
Special creation is a term in Christian theology with varying meanings depending on context. In creationism, it refers to the belief that the universe and all life originated in its present form by divine decree, often interpreted as a literal six-day creation. In Catholicism, the phrase is used in two distinct senses: to refer to the special creation of humans within theistic evolution, where God gives souls to evolved near-human animals, and to the doctrine of the immediate creation of each human soul.
- field
- Christian theology, creationism, Catholicism
- known_for
- Belief that the universe and life originated by divine decree; Catholic doctrine of the special creation of the human soul
- context
- Varies between creationist literalism and Catholic theistic evolution
Lore & Background
In creationism, special creation is a literal interpretation of the Genesis creation narrative, viewing it as an accurate description of the creation of the universe in essentially its present form over six 24-hour days. Duane Gish of the Institute for Creation Research defined it as creation using supernatural processes not operating in the natural universe. Dennis Jensen of the American Scientific Affiliation stated that special creation means complex living things did not descend from simpler ones but were created independently. James B. Stenson wrote that for fundamentalists, special creation follows from a literal reading of Genesis, with each separate kind created in six 24-hour days starting a few thousand years ago. Charles B. Thaxton argued for 'Special Creation by a Creator beyond the Cosmos,' asserting that the source that produced life was intelligent.
Reader's Guide
In Catholicism, the Pontifical Biblical Commission issued a decree in 1909 mentioning special creation only in relation to humans, not other species. In 2004, the International Theological Commission, under Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, accepted scientific accounts of the Big Bang and evolution, teaching that God acted indirectly through causal chains, preparing for the special creation of the human soul. This special creation established the basis for divine intimacy embracing every human person from the first moment of existence. The term thus bridges creationist literalism and Catholic acceptance of evolution, with the key point of divergence being the origin of the human soul. Its significance lies in how different Christian traditions reconcile scriptural accounts with scientific understanding, preserving a role for divine intervention in human origins.
Did You Know?
- In creationism, special creation is defined by Duane Gish as using supernatural processes not operating anywhere in the natural universe.
- Catholicism uses 'special creation' in two senses: the special creation of humans within theistic evolution, and the immediate creation of each human soul.
- The Pontifical Biblical Commission in 1909 mentioned special creation only in relation to humans, not other species.
- Charles B. Thaxton argued for 'Special Creation by a Creator beyond the Cosmos,' asserting the source that produced life was intelligent.
More in Genesis creation narrative 1-24
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