Origins of the Universe
How did everything begin? Scientists and religious believers often have different explanations for how the universe came into existence. Evolutionary theories describe how living things have changed over millions of years, while religious accounts like the Genesis creation story in the Bible focus on humanity's beginning and moral teachings rather than physical origins.
The Theory of Evolution, developed by Charles Darwin in the 1850s, explains the development of species through natural selection. This scientific perspective sometimes appears to contradict religious beliefs that God created all living things. According to Genesis, God created the Earth in six days and rested on the seventh, making humans "in his own image."
Did you know? Muslims regard the existence of the universe as proof of Allah, the creator, while many scientists explain cosmic beginnings through the Big Bang Theory.
The Big Bang Theory suggests the universe began approximately 14 billion years ago through a rapid expansion of matter. On Earth, this led to the development of atmosphere, formation of plants, and evolution of life. Some religious texts seem to reference cosmic events—as in the description that "Heaven and Earth were joined together as one unit before we clove them asunder."