Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson said he believes God created the world but has no idea how old the Earth is.

During an interview with Fox News host Bill O'Reilly on Monday, Carson was asked, "Are you really a creationist? Do you subscribe to Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden, and that's where we came from?"

The former neurosurgeon asserted that he certainly believes that God is the creator, but he cannot determine when the world was created.

"I know a lot of people say that I believe the Earth is 6,000 years old, and they have no basis for saying that. I don't know how old the Earth is. It says (in the Bible), 'In the Beginning God created the heaven and the earth' – and then there's a period there. You don't know how much time has elapsed," he answered.

This was not the first time Carson confronted questions regarding the timing of God's creation. Back in 2011, Carson slammed Darwin's theory of evolution, saying it was inspired by Satan.

When Time sought for a more extensive understanding, Carson said: "Well you wouldn't understand it, no one would understand it unless they believe that there were forces of good and forces of evil. If you don't believe that, then that would be a nonsensical statement to you."

"I would believe that the forces of evil would be looking for a way to make people believe there was no God. I believe in micro-evolution. I believe in natural selection. But I have a different take on it. The evolutionists they say there, that's proof that the theory of evolution is true," he said. "I say that's proof of an intelligent and caring God who gave His creatures the ability to adapt to their environment so He wouldn't have to start over every 50 years."