Young Earth creationism (YEC) is the belief that the God of Judaism or Christianity created the Universe, the Earth and all life on Earth over a short time between 5,700 and 10,000 years ago. Those who believe in young Earth creationism are mainly Christians and Jews. They believe the Genesis account of creation in the Bible is to be taken literally, chronologically, and as a reference to scientific material events. Young Earth creationists believe that God created the Earth in six 24-hour days. They disagree with others creationists because they believe the Bible rightly interpreted leads to the conclusion that the earth is young. Other Bible scholars and religious leaders disagree with this interpretation and suggest that Genesis 1 is not intended to be interpreted in such rigid scientifically literal terms, suggesting other interpretations of the 24-hour day view
Astronomers hold the view that the universe is more than 13 billion years old while the Earth has existed for 4.5 billion years.