Evolution Korea
Up until recently, the Korean scientific community resisted working with creationists due to the fear of giving the movement more credibility. However, silence is no anymore an option.
The STR has been fighting to eliminate evolution-related content from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestral bird. This is just one aspect of how the concept of development has evolved.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a theory of science that explains the changes in the genetic traits of living organisms over time. The theory is based on the fact that living things adapt to their surroundings, which can cause variations in genes or even complete genomes. These changes can, over generations result in the development of new species. The most popular theory of evolution is called natural selection, which explains the process through which individuals with advantageous characteristics survive and reproduce more often than those with disadvantages. This variation in reproduction could be a catalyst to the development and emergence of new species.
The word "evolution" comes from the Latin word for unraveling or revealing, however the concept itself has had many different meanings over the years as it has taken form in the fields of science and other fields. Some early evolutionists, like Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that existing species changed into other species in a predetermined fashion. The term"transmutation" was coined by Lamarck's disciple, embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, to describe this notion. Charles Lyell, who published the second volume of his Principles of Geology in 1833 opposed this notion and borrowed the term "evolution" from Geoffroy's student to describe the notion that existing species evolve into other species in an orderly and predictable manner.
In recent years, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process that occurs when living things develop characteristics that increase their chances of survival or ability to produce offspring. In time the genetic variability could lead to the emergence of completely new physical or biological traits in a population. This shift in gene frequency is called natural selection, and it is the main driver of evolutionary changes. However non-genetic changes like the growth in muscle mass from diet or exercise can't be considered examples of evolution since they are not inherited by the next generation.
Creationists are using the argument that evolution is controversial, despite the fact that it has been proven true by thousands of scientific tests and it has been tested over time. They argue that the concept should not be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists have had a few wins in their fight to remove evolution from textbooks for high school which includes the removal of references to the evolutionary origins of humans as well as the Archaeopteryx, a feathered dinosaur that is thought to be the ancestral bird's parent.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains how Earth and all living creatures came into existence. It is also one of the pillars of biology, and helps scientists to understand how living things function and develop. Evolution also demonstrates how different species are linked. Scientists study evolution to gain a better understanding of the natural world and to make useful discoveries like the development of new treatments.
The evidence for evolution of biological species is overwhelming. No other scientific theory can explain more about the universe as the life on this planet. It has been rigorously scrutinized and confirmed for a number of years. Many people, including some religious leaders, believe in the theory of evolution as a scientific fact. It is important to note that evolutionary biology does not conflict with religious beliefs, as the theory only deals with things, events and processes within the physical world.
In fact many religious people have come up with ways to reconcile their beliefs with the theory of evolution. For example, some Christians believe that God created the universe through evolution and that humans share an ancestral connection with other animals.
It is essential that scientists and educators speak out for the teaching evolution. Unfortunately, in some countries around the world there is a growing anti-evolutionist sentiment. In the United States, efforts to restrict the teaching of evolution have made progress in some states. In South Korea, a group known as the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC), is campaigning for textbooks that cover the evolution of horses and their Avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
Although these are alarming developments, it is also important to remember that the evidence for 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 agree with the theory of evolution. The reason for this is a variety of reasons. Some scientists click here study evolution in order to discover practical solutions such as developing new medicines or enhancing existing ones. Others do this to improve animal and plants species, typically to benefit of humans. Some are simply curious, while still others have a deep religious belief in God and seek to know how the universe works.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are those who believe that God created the universe and everything in it. They also believe that the Bible is God's word and should be believed to be true. Although not all creationists are Christian but they are a majority. Creationists are typically divided into two categories: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
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. YECs believe that the biblical account of the six days of creation is true, and that the universe and life on Earth started only recently.
OECs are not as well-known however they're just as passionate about their beliefs as YECs. OECs believe that the universe and all life on Earth are billions of years old, and they believe that evolution is a myth.
Both types of creationism reject the notion that scientific principles like natural selection and abiogenesis could explain the origins of life on Earth. They argue that evolution is not possible because it would require the creation of a miracle, and the pioneers of modern science rejected miracles out of fear that they would lose credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolutionary and special creation. They refer to their belief as "theistic evolution.†This is sometimes known as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the created species." In this theory, God creates the original species, and then allows them to change over time. In the end these evolutionary changes will result in new species similar to the original ones.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things during a single event, referred to as the Great Flood. Creationists believe that the original species were all created simultaneously, and that they grew slowly afterward. They also reject the idea of abiogenesis and claim that the creation of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is not possible.
In general, the creationists are opposed to the teaching of evolution in schools. Numerous professional organizations, like the National Science Teachers Association and the Association for Science Teacher Education support this position and so do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. However, some academic institutions and scientists are more flexible, and allow the inclusion of creationism and evolution in their curricula.
What is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of the concept of creationism most often, they think of the United States. However, South Korea is also home to an anti-evolutionist movement. Publishers of high-school textbooks announced recently that they would eliminate the mention of evolution in their textbooks. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent body which is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) has been the driving force behind this drive. STR has achieved its first victory in removing examples of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor called the Archeopteryx in textbooks. The focus is now on removing snippets of Darwin's notorious finch research and on human evolution too.
STR claims to have the support of 4000 families and individuals. Its aim is to root out what it believes is the "atheist materialism" that reflects a hopeless worldview for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American creationists who live in the US. A survey of the newest biology teachers revealed that around half do not believe in the concept of evolution. The root causes are unclear but could be due to religion and the absence of full-time creation scientists across the United States.
The KACR has accomplished a lot through its seminars and lectures. It publishes a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of them is a textbook on the natural sciences that has an evolutionary perspective that has sparked interest among college students. In 1991 an academic and minister began teaching Creation Science in one university and it is taught to this day.
On August 6 and 7, 1993, coinciding with the World Expo opened in Daejeon, KACR held a second International Symposium on Creation Research. Six foreign lecturers including ICR's John Morris and Steven Austin presented to thousands of people. KACR and its members have been giving lectures on creation science in major seminaries too. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.