Evolution Korea
Up until recently, the Korean scientific community avoided engaging with creationists for fear of giving the movement more credibility. Silence is no longer an alternative.
The STR has been battling to eliminate content from textbooks that describe evolution, including the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an ancestor of birds. This is only one aspect of how the development paradigm has evolved.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a scientific theory that explains the changes in the genetic characteristics of living organisms over time. The theory is based on fact that living things adapt to their environment, which can cause variations in genes or even whole genomes. These changes can, over generations lead to the creation of new species. The predominant theory of evolution is known as natural selection, which explains the process that allows people with advantages survive and reproduce more often than those with disadvantages. As time passes, this difference in reproduction could result in the creation of entirely new species.
The word "evolution" is derived from the Latin for revealing or unrolling, has been used in a variety of different ways as the concept has evolved in both science as well as elsewhere. Early evolutionists such as Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predetermined to change into another species. The term transmutation was coined by Lamarck's disciple embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, to describe this idea. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, attacked the concept of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy’s student.
Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process in which living organisms develop traits to improve their chances of surviving or conceiving offspring. As time passes, this genetic variability can cause the emergence of entirely new physical or biological functions in the same population. The shift in gene frequency is known as natural selection and it drives most evolutionary change. However non-genetic changes like the increase in muscle mass from diet or exercise cannot be considered to be examples of evolution since they're not inherited by future generations.
Creationists have a tendency to use the argument that evolution is controversial even though it has been proven valid by a multitude of scientific tests and that it has been tested over time. They claim that the theory shouldn't be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories over evolution in high school textbooks. This includes the removal of references about the evolutionary history of humans and Archaeopteryx - a feathered dino believed to be the ancestor of birds.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution is the explanation for the origins of Earth and all living species. It is also a foundation of biology, and aids scientists to comprehend how living organisms operate and grow. Evolution also helps us understand the connections between species. Scientists study evolution in order to better comprehend nature and make important discoveries, such as the development of new drugs.
The evidence for evolution of biological species is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that can explain so much about the universe as well as life on Earth, and it has been rigorously tested and confirmed over many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in support of the scientific theory. It is important to understand that evolutionary biology doesn't interfere with religious beliefs, as the theory is based on processes, objects, and events in the physical world.
In reality, many religious people have found ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolution. For instance certain Christians believe that God created the world through evolution and that humans share an ancestry with other animals.
It is crucial for science educators to stand up for the teaching of evolution. In some countries, the opposition to evolution has been rising. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit teaching of evolution. In South Korea, a group known as the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) which is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research is urging the elimination of textbook content on the evolution of horses and the avian ancestral Archaeopteryx.
It is important to remember, however, that the evidence in support of evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution is based on a variety of sources, including fossils, genetics and the behavior of living creatures. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The vast majority of scientists believe in the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this support vary. Scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries that can lead to the development of new medicines and other treatments, while others are driven by an interest in improving the quality of life for animals and plant species, generally to benefit humans. Some scientists are just curious, whereas others have a strong religious belief in God.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are people who believe that God created the universe and all that is in it. They also believe that the Bible is the word of God and should be taken seriously. While not all creationists are Christian but many are. Creationists typically fall into two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The most popular kind of creationist is called the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in exactly the manner described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of the six days of creation is literal, and that the universe and life on Earth started only recently.
OECs aren't as known, but their beliefs are just as fierce as the YECs. OECs believe that the universe and Earth are billions of years old, and that evolution is a myth.
Both types of creationism reject the idea that scientific principles like biogenesis and natural selection can explain how life began on Earth. They argue that evolution is not possible because it requires miracles. The founders of modern scientific thought resisted miracles out of fear they would lose their credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolutionary and special creation. They call their view “theistic evolution." This is also referred to as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of created kinds." In this belief system, God creates the original species and allows them to change over time. Eventually, these evolutionary changes will create new species that are identical to the original species.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things in a single event, referred to as the Great Flood. Creationists believe that all species were created at the same time and then slowly evolved. They also reject the concept of abiogenesis and argue that the creation of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is impossible.
In general, the creationists oppose the teaching of evolution in schools. This is a position that is backed by a variety of professional organizations which include the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education as well as the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society 에볼루션게이밍 of America. However, certain researchers and educational institutions are more flexible and permit the inclusion of creationism and evolution in their curriculum.
What is Creationism in Korea?
When people think about creationism, many of them think of the United States. However, South Korea is also home to an anti-evolutionist movement. Publishers of high-school textbooks recently announced that they will remove references to evolution from their textbooks. A group called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR), an independent body that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research, has led the drive. STR has achieved its first victory by eliminating instances of the evolution of the horse as well as an avian ancestor, called the Archeopteryx from textbooks. It is now focusing on the removal of excerpts from Darwin's infamous finch research and on human evolution too.
STR claims to have the support of 4,000 families and members. Its goal is to weed out what it regards as the "atheist materialism" that reflects a hopeless worldview for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American Creationists in the nation. A survey of trainees in biology revealed that half of them didn't believe in evolution. The causes are not clear, but could include religious beliefs or the absence of creation scientists in the United States.
The KACR has achieved a number of things through its seminars and lectures. It publishes a bimonthly magazine called Creation and the book. One of these was a textbook on natural science that had a creationist perspective. This led to an interest among college communities. In 1991, a professor, together with a minister began teaching Creation Science at one university. It is still taught today.
On August 6th and 7th of 1993, KACR hosted a second International Symposium on Creation Research. It was held in conjunction with the opening of the World Expo in Daejeon. Six lecturers from abroad, including ICR's John Morris and Steven Austin, spoke to thousands of people. KACR members and KACR have also presented lectures on creation science in prestigious seminaries. KACR plans to create a Creation Science Education Center in the future.