ABSTRACT
The problem of creation lacks well-defined or agreed-upon boundaries. The problem can be dealt with from the point of view of a “pure” cosmology, which develops a theory of this or that causality as the origin of the world, without relying on any theological presuppositions. By contrast, many views of creation embrace theories that rely on theological presuppositions and advance theological speculations. The consensus among Western theistic religions is that creation is inseparable from the existence of a transcendent creator-God; accordingly, these religions represent the theological aspect of creation as bound up with the existence of God. According to the prevalent theologies of Western religions, God's being the creator is what endows the world with its purposiveness. In this view, the world is not the product of chance or arbitrary decision, but exhibits an intelligibility that derives from the perfect plan of the omnipotent being. Moreover, the claim is often made in support of theism that the intelligibility of the universe constitutes a good reason for believing in the existence of God. Both classical theologians and theistically minded philosophers of religion have adopted this, the so-called argument from design. 1
