Evolution Korea
For a long time, the Korean scientific community resisted engaging with the creationists out of fear of giving the movement more credibility. However, silence is no any longer an option.
The STR has been fighting to remove evolution-related content from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestral bird. However, this is just one aspect of the evolution of the development paradigm.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a theory of science that explains changes in genetic traits over time. The theory is based on fact that living organisms adapt to their surroundings which can result in changes in genes, or even entire genomes. These changes could over generations lead to the emergence of new species. Natural selection is the most popular theory of evolution. It explains how individuals who have advantages can reproduce faster and longer than those with disadvantageous ones. In time, this disparity in reproduction can lead to the emergence of completely new species.
The word "evolution" is derived from the Latin word for unrolling or revealing. However, the concept itself has a myriad of meanings since it took form in the sciences and other fields. Early evolutionists such as Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predestined to evolve into a different species. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire was Lamarck's embryologist student who came up with the term "transmutation" to describe this idea. 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 idea that existing species evolve into other species in a gradual and predictable way.
In recent years evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process that occurs when living creatures develop characteristics that enhance their chances of survival or the ability to produce offspring. In time, this genetic variability can cause the emergence of entirely new physical or biological traits in the population. Such a variation in gene frequencies is called natural selection, and it drives most evolutionary change. However, non-genetic changes such as increases in muscle mass from diet or exercise can't be considered to be examples of evolution since they are not inherited by future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has withstood the tests of time and thousands of scientific experiments Creationists have taken advantage of the notion that the theory is controversial and claim that it shouldn't be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists won some victories against evolution in textbooks for high school. This includes the removal of all references about the evolutionary origins for humans and Archaeopteryx - a feathered dino that is believed to be the ancestor of birds.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains how the Earth and all its living creatures came into existence. It is also one of the foundations of biology, and helps scientists understand how living things work and develop. Evolution also shows how different species are interconnected. Scientists study evolution to gain a better understanding of the natural world and to make useful discoveries including the development of new treatments.
The evidence for evolution of biological species is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that can explain so much about the universe and life on this planet, and it has been thoroughly tested and confirmed over a long period of time. Many people, including religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory. It is important to understand that evolutionary biology does not contradict religious beliefs, since the theory only deals with processes, objects, and events in the physical world.
In reality many religious people have come up with ways to reconcile their beliefs with the theory of evolution. Some Christians, for example, believe that God created everything through evolution and that humans share a common ancestry to other animals.
It is important for scientists to stand up for the teaching of evolution. In please click for source , the anti-evolution movement has been rising. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit teaching of evolution. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC), is campaigning for textbooks to include content on the evolution of horses and their Avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
Although these are alarming changes, it's important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a diverse range of sources, such as fossils, genetic studies, and the behavior of living organisms. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The vast majority of scientists support the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this belief vary. Certain scientists study evolution in order to discover practical solutions 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, typically for the benefit of humans. Some are simply curious, and others have a deep religious belief in God and are seeking to understand how the universe functions.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are those who believe that God created the universe and everything in it. They also believe that the Bible is the word of God and should be taken literally. Many creationists are Christians, but not all. Creationists are usually divided into two groups: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
The most well-known type of creationist is known as the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in the exact way 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 began only recently.
OECs may be less well-known however their beliefs are as passionate like those of 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 deny that scientific theories such as natural selection and abiogenesis are able to explain the origin of life on Earth. They claim that evolution is not possible because it requires a miracle, and that the founders of modern science eschewed miracles for fear that they would lose credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolution as well as special creation, and refer to their belief "theistic evolution." This is also referred to as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of species created." In this belief system, God creates the original species and allows them to change over time. These evolutionary changes will eventually produce new species similar to the original.
Others believe that God created the universe and all living things in one event, referred to as the Great Flood. Creationists believe that the original species were all created at the same time, and that they grew gradually afterward. They also deny the notion of abiogenesis and argue that the emergence of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is not possible.
In general, the creationists are against teaching evolution in schools. This is supported by a myriad of professional associations which include the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education as well as the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. Some academic institutions and scientists are, however, more flexible and allow both creationism and evolution to be included in their curricula.
What exactly is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of the concept of creationism, they often think of the United States. However, South Korea is also home to an anti-evolution movement. Publishers of high school textbooks have recently announced that they will eliminate references to evolution from their editions. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent body which is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) has been the driving force behind this drive. STR has won its first victory in eliminating instances of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor, called the Archeopteryx in textbooks. Its next target is to remove portions of Darwin's notorious finch-research as well as on human evolution.
STR claims to have the support of 4,000 families and individual members. Its goal, it says is to cleanse the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" which paints a negative view for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American creationists who live in the US. A survey of students in biology revealed that a majority of them did not believe in evolution. The causes aren't clear but could be due to religious beliefs and the lack of full-time creation scientists across the United States.
The KACR has achieved a lot through its lectures and seminars in the past. It publishes a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of them was a textbook on natural sciences with a creationist stance. This sparked an interest among college communities. In 1991, a professor along with a minister began teaching Creation Science at one university. It is still taught in the present.
On August 6-7 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 a crowd of more than a thousand. KACR and its members have been delivering talks on creation science at major seminaries as well. KACR is planning to create a Creation Science Education Center.