Within the Judeo-Christian tradition, this creation is taken to be ex nihilo (Latin: out of nothing). Some Biblical scholars have argued that this comes from a mistranslation of the biblical account in the book of Genesis.
Many ancient religions, believed by contrast that the universe was created by God or the Gods out of pre-existing matter. There is some evidence of this view in the biblical account, which appears to presume the pre-existence of some form of matter, albeit without form: "Now the earth was formless and void, darkness was over the face of the deep, and the spirit of God hovered over the waters." The Genesis account appears to presume the pre-existence of water, which God then transformed to create the world.
Others held that the universe was eternal and had always existed.
Modern science holds that the universe is of finite age (see Big Bang), but has no opinion on the issue of its creation by a deity. Most modern atheists hold that the universe came into existence a finite time ago through purely natural causes.
Belief that a supreme being created the universe does not require adoption of any particular view on the issue of evolution; see creationism for further discussion.
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