"Creation" has its divine meaning in the Bible. When someone speaks of "creation" he refers to the genesis of the world. The divine and supernatural power of God to create is what is often meant by the word "creation".

Man, the only thinking animal, does speak of "creation" also. In a sense, he is also capable of "creating something." Relatively speaking, he has this special power to create or produce something with the use of his abilities.

Of all the powers of man, that of creativity seems most unique. The generally accepted practice among the ancients was to ascribe divine origin, inspiration or direction to any great creative work. It is not so easy a task to shatter down the mysteries in creativity. However, sufficient attempts have been made by great thinkers to point out what creativity is and to determine its place in education. Creativity is one of the most highly valued of human qualities. It is also one of the most elusive to systematic inquiry.

Creativity and Its Characteristics

Generally speaking, creativity may be defined in terms of personality, product, process or environmental conditions.

If personality is used as the focus, an examination of the traits that discriminate a creative from non-creative person may provide possible clues. Many of the studies focusing on personality traits have examined in great the background and the life of highly creative people in various fields such as mathematics, music, literature, history or architecture.

There are also those who define creativity in terms of producing something new. Some say that creative thinking means the production of an idea (e.g., artistic, mechanical or theoretical) that is new to the creator. To others creativity implies something novel, something that did not previously exist in the same form in culture.

A creative mind continually reaches toward new designs, new problems, new insights. There is an almost endless freshness in its inexhaustible powers. One new design is replaced by another and then still another. The product of thinking has novelty and value either for the thinker or for his society. It has intellectual inventiveness and innovation.

Creativity can also be examined in terms of environmental conditions. We may identify certain features in the environment which relate to creative thinking either negatively or positively. They either inhibit or facilitate the process of imaginative thought.