YEC, acronym for Young Earth Creationism, refers to a religious and scientific belief system that holds the view that the Earth and universe were created relatively recently, generally within the span of 6,000 to 10,000 years. YEC adherents maintain that this creation event occurred as depicted in the book of Genesis in the Bible. Young Earth Creationists interpret the Bible's genealogical records, specifically the genealogies of Adam to Jesus, as providing the timeframe for creation.
YEC proponents assert that the Earth's geology, biological diversity, and any physical evidence suggesting an ancient age are misinterpreted or misunderstood. They contend that the geological phenomena such as the fossil record, rock layers, and geological formations are the result of a catastrophic flood event, commonly referred to as the Great Flood or Noah's Flood.
In contrast to mainstream scientific consensus, YEC rejects the theory of evolution and instead advocates for the notion that all species were created separately by divine intervention. They reject the concept of common ancestry and argue against the scientific methods used for dating the Earth and universe, such as radiometric dating and the study of cosmic background radiation.
While YEC remains a minority viewpoint within the scientific community, it has gained significant popularity within certain religious circles, particularly those subscribing to fundamentalist interpretations of Christianity.
