Creationism is the belief that the universe and all living things were created by a divine being, often identified as God. This perspective contrasts with scientific explanations like evolution, which suggest that life developed over millions of years through natural processes. Creationists often refer to religious texts, such as the Bible, to support their views on how the world and humanity came into existence. There are different forms of creationism, including young Earth creationism, which asserts that the Earth is only a few thousand years old, and intelligent design, which argues that certain features of the universe are best explained by an intelligent cause rather than random processes. These beliefs can influence discussions in science, education, and public policy.