Guide Note:

Neo-Creationism refers to a group of beliefs that accept the existence of evolution in the development of life, but believe that evolution has been designed, guided, and mapped by a higher power, such as God. The term is often used to refer to Intelligent Design by its opponents and detractors.

Fast Facts:

1. AKA: Intelligent Design
2. Core belief: Universe designed by higher power
3. Prominent advocates: William Dembski
4. Prominent institutes: Discovery Institute; Center for Science and Culture
5. Believes orthodox science is an atheistic religion
6. Term often used derisively by opponents of Intelligent Design theory
7. Believed by opponents to be stealthy manner of introducing religion and Biblical creation narrative into science classrooms
8. Not strictly tied to Biblical account of Creation

In the 1980s, advocates of the view that the universe was designed and mapped by God (or another higher power) began using the term "intelligent design" to refer to their theory. Unlike strict creationists, who hold that the Earth is quite young, and/or that the Earth was created in seven days, intelligent design advocates seek to prove that the universe and evolution are the products of a "designer", i.e. God. As the intelligent design movement became popular, traditional scientists began to refer to the movement as "neo-creationism" in order to associate it with its older roots in strict creation science.