Evolution Korea
Until recently the Korean scientific community avoided engaging with the creationists, fearing that doing so could give the movement more credibility. Silence is no longer a viable option.
The STR has been fighting to eliminate evolution-related content from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestor 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 the evolution of genetic characteristics over time. The theory is based upon the fact that living organisms adjust to their environment, which may lead to variations in genes or entire genomes. These changes can over many generations lead to the emergence of new species. Natural selection is the predominant theory of evolution. It explains how people with traits that are advantageous are more likely to reproduce and survive than those with less favorable traits. Over time, this differential reproduction may lead to the emergence of entirely new species.
The term "evolution" originates from the Latin word"evolution" which means unrolling or revealing. However, 에볼루션 코리아 Evolution KR has a myriad of meanings as it has taken shape in the sciences and other fields. Early evolutionists like Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predetermined to change into a new species. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire was Lamarck's embryologist student who invented the term "transmutation" to describe this view. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, attacked the concept of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy's student.
More recently, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process that occurs when living things develop characteristics that increase their chances of survival or the ability to reproduce offspring. In time, genetic variation can cause a population develop new physical characteristics or biological functions. Such a change in gene frequencies is known as natural selection and is the primary driver behind evolutionary changes. Other changes that aren't genetic, such as an increase in muscle mass from exercise or diet, cannot be considered to be evolution since they aren't passed down to the next generation.
Creationists make the argument that evolution is controversial, in spite of the fact that it has been proven to be true by thousands of scientific tests and that it has been tested over time. They argue that the theory shouldn't be taught at school. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories against evolution in textbooks for high schools. This includes the removal of all references to the evolutionary roots of humans as well as Archaeopteryx - a feathered dinosaur that is believed to be the ancestral bird's first ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains how Earth and all living species evolved. It is also one of the pillars of biology, and aids scientists understand how living things work and grow. Evolution also shows how different species are interconnected. Scientists study evolution to better understand the natural world, and also to make important discoveries like the development of new medicines.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. No other scientific theory explains more about the universe as the life on this planet. It has been thoroughly studied and verified for many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in support of the scientific theory. It is important to note that evolutionary biology doesn't contradict religious beliefs, as the theory is based on processes, objects, and events in the physical world.
In fact many religious people have found ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolutionary theory. For instance, some Christians believe that God created the world through evolution, and that humans share an ancestral connection with other animals.
It is important that scientists and educators speak out for the teaching of evolution. Unfortunately, in a few countries around the globe there is a growing anti-evolutionist sentiment. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit the teaching evolution. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) which is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research is pushing for the removal of textbook content about the evolution of horses and the Avian ancestral Archaeopteryx.
Although these are alarming developments, it is important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a wide 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. This belief is based on a variety of reasons. Scientists study evolution to discover practical solutions such as developing new medicines and other treatments, while others use it to improve the quality of animal and plant species, typically to benefit of humans. Some scientists are just curious, while others hold a an intense belief in God.
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 seriously. While not all creationists are Christian, many are. Creationists are usually divided into two categories: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
The most popular type of creationist is known as the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in the exact way described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of the first six days of creation was true and that the universe and life on Earth were created only recently.
OECs aren't as popular However, their beliefs are as intense like the 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 forms of creationism deny that scientific principles such as biogenesis and natural selection could explain how life began on Earth. They claim that evolution isn't possible because it would require an extraordinary event, and that the pioneers of modern science rejected miracles out of fear of losing credibility.
Some creationists believe in naturalistic evolution and also special creation, and refer to their belief as "theistic evolution.” This is also known as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of species created." The theory says that God creates species from scratch and then allows these to evolve over time. These evolutionary changes will eventually produce new species that are similar to the original.
Some creationists believe that God created all living things and the universe in a single event known as the Great Flood. They believe that all the original species were created at the same time and then gradually evolved. They also reject the concept of abiogenesis and claim that the emergence of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is not possible.
In general, the creationists are against teaching of evolution in schools. Numerous professional organizations, like the National Science Teachers Association and the Association for Science Teacher Education endorse this view, as do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. However, certain scientists and educational institutions are more flexible, and allow the inclusion of both evolution and creationism in their curriculum.
What exactly is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of creationism most often, they think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolution group. The publishers of high school textbooks announced recently that they would remove references to evolution in their textbooks. A group dubbed the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) is an unofficial body that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research and has been the driving force behind the move. The STR has achieved its first victory by removing from textbooks the evidence of the evolution and ancestor of an avian, the Archeopteryx. Its sights are now set on removing snippets of Darwin's infamous finch research and on human evolution too.
STR claims to have the support of 4,000 families and individuals. Its mission is to cut out what it sees as the "atheist materialism" that creates a bleak worldview for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American Creationists in the nation. A survey of students in biology revealed that half of them did not believe in evolution. The causes are not evident, but they could be due to religious beliefs or the lack of creation scientists in the US.
The KACR has achieved a lot through its seminars and lectures 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 cosmological perspective. This led to an interest among college communities. In 1991 an academic and minister started teaching Creation Science in one university and it is taught until today.
On August 7 and 8 in 1993, the same day that the World Expo opened in Daejeon, KACR held a second International Symposium on Creation Research. Six lecturers from abroad, including ICR's John Morris and Steven Austin presented to an audience of several thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given lectures on the subject of creation science at major seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center.