Evolution Korea
Up until recently the Korean scientific community resisted engaging with creationists for fear of giving the movement more credence. However, silence is no longer an option.
The STR has been fighting to eliminate the content on evolution from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestral bird. But this is merely one aspect of the development paradigm's evolution.
What is Evolution?
The theory of evolution is a scientific one that explains the change in genetic characteristics of living organisms over time. The theory is based upon the fact that living organisms adapt to their environment, which may result in variations in genes or even whole genomes. Over the course of many generations these changes could result in the creation of new species. Natural selection is the dominant theory of evolution. It explains how people with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more than those with less favorable traits. As time passes, this difference in reproduction can lead to the emergence of entirely new species.
The word "evolution" originates from Latin for unrolling or revealing has been used in many different ways as the concept has evolved, both in science and in other fields. Early evolutionists, such as Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that the existing species changed into other species in a certain way. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire, Lamarck's embryologist disciple who invented the term "transmutation" to describe this theory. Charles Lyell, who published the second volume of his Principles of Geology in 1833 challenged this notion and borrowed the term "evolution" from Geoffroy's student to describe the notion that existing species change into different species in a gradual and predictable way.
Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process in which living organisms develop traits that increase their chances of living or producing offspring. As time passes, genetic variation can cause a population acquire new physical traits or biological functions. Natural selection is the process that drives the most evolutionary changes. Non-genetic changes, such as an increase in muscle mass through exercise or diet, cannot be considered evolution because they aren't passed on to future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has stood the tests of time and thousands of scientific tests, creationists have seized on the idea that the theory is controversial and claim that it shouldn't be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists have had a few wins in their fight to remove evolution from high-school textbooks, including the removal of any mention of the evolutionary origins of humans and the Archaeopteryx feathered dinosaur thought to be an ancestor of birds.
Why is Evolution Important for Humanity?
Evolution explains how Earth and all its living species evolved. It is also a foundation of biology and helps scientists comprehend how living organisms operate and develop. Evolution also helps us understand the connections between species. Scientists study evolution to gain a better understanding of the natural world and to discover useful information 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 as well as life on Earth, and it has been thoroughly tested and confirmed over a long period of time. Many people, including some religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory of evolution. It is crucial to keep in mind that evolutionary biology does not interfere with religious beliefs since it only focuses on physical objects, events and processes.
In fact, many religious people have discovered 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 important for scientists to support the teaching of evolution. In certain countries, the anti-evolution movement has been growing. In the United States, efforts to restrict the teaching of evolution have made some headway in a few states. In South Korea, a group known as the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC), is campaigning for textbook content on the evolutionary history of horses and their Avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the evidence in favor of evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a broad range of sources, such as fossils, genetic studies, and the behavior of living organisms. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The majority of scientists support the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this support are diverse. Some scientists study evolution to discover practical solutions that can lead to the development of new medications and other treatments, while others are driven by a desire to improve animal and plant species, typically to benefit humans. Some are simply curious, while still others have a deep faith in God and want to know how the universe functions.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are those who believe that God created the universe and all that is in it. They also believe the Bible is God's word and should be believed to be true. Many creationists are Christians, but not all. Creationists typically fall into one of two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The most common 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 creation's six days is true and that the universe and the life on Earth began only recently.
OECs aren't as known however their beliefs are as fierce like the YECs. OECs believe that the universe as well as Earth are billions of years old and that evolution is a myth.
Both forms of creationism deny that scientific theories such as natural selection and abiogenesis are able to explain the origins of life on Earth. They claim that evolution is not possible because it would require a miracle, and that the scientists who founded modern science shied away from miracles due to fear that they would lose credibility.
Some creationists accept both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and refer to their belief "theistic evolution." This is sometimes also called "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the original species." In this view, God creates the original species and then allows them to evolve over time. Eventually, these evolutionary changes will result in new species similar to the original ones.
Some creationists believe that God created all living things and the universe in one event known as the Great Flood. Creationists believe that all the original species were created at the same time and that they gradually evolved. They also deny the notion of abiogenesis, and argue that the self-replicating creation of organisms from nonliving matter is unattainable.
In general, the creationists oppose teaching evolution in schools. This is supported by a myriad of professional associations such as the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education, the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. However, 에볼루션코리아 and educational institutions are more flexible and permit the inclusion of both evolution and creationism 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. The publishers of high school textbooks have recently announced that they will eliminate references to evolution from their books. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent body which is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) is the one who has led this drive. STR has secured its first victory in eliminating examples of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor called the Archeopteryx from textbooks. Its next target is to remove the finch-research of Darwin's famed and also on human evolution.
STR claims to have the support of 4,000 families and individuals. Its mission, it states is to cleanse the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" which paints an image of students as being negative. It also seeks to counter the influence of American creationists in the country. A survey of undergraduates studying biology found that half did not believe in evolution. The reasons for this are not clear but could be due to religion and the absence of full-time creation scientists in the country.
The KACR accomplished a number of things through its seminars and lectures in the past. It publishes a bimonthly magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of these was a textbook on natural sciences with a cosmological perspective. This sparked an interest in the college community. In 1991, a professor and minister started teaching Creation Science in one university and it is taught until today.
On August 6-7 in 1993, the same day that 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, spoke to a crowd of more than a thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given talks on creation science in prestigious seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center in the future.