The bringing into existence of the world or universe, usually by a deity or supernatural force, either making the universe out of nothing, or fashioning pre-existing materials into the universe. As defined by many historical and some current religions, the beginning of the world as an event from which the reckoning of time begins. Most modern religions reconcile the doctrine with scientific theory by treating the literary tradition of creation stories, such as in the Bible, as allegory, while some consider the literary tradition of creation as fact.