Evolution Korea
In the past the Korean scientific community been hesitant to engage with creationists, afraid that doing so could boost the credibility of the group. However, silence is no any longer an option.
The STR has been fighting to eliminate evolution-related content from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestor bird. This is only one aspect of how the concept of development has changed.
What is Evolution?
The theory of evolution is a scientific one 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 environments which can result in changes in genes or even whole genomes. These changes could over generations lead to the creation of new species. Natural selection is the predominant theory of evolution. It describes how individuals with traits that are advantageous can reproduce faster and longer than those with disadvantageous ones. This variation in reproduction could eventually lead to the emergence and evolution of new species.
The term "evolution" is derived from the Latin word"evolution" which means unraveling or revealing, however the concept has had a variety of meanings since it took shape in the sciences and in other fields. Early evolutionists like Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predestined to evolve into a different species. The term transmutation was coined by the 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 idea that species are evolving into new species in a gradual and predictable manner.
More recently, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process when living creatures develop characteristics that increase their chances of survival or the ability to reproduce offspring. Over time the genetic variability could cause the emergence of completely new physical or biological traits in a population. Natural selection is the mechanism that triggers the majority of evolutionary changes. Changes that are not genetic, like an increase in muscle mass through exercise or diet, can't be considered to be evolutionary because they aren't passed down to future generations.
Creationists have a tendency to use the argument that evolution is controversial, even though it has been proven accurate by thousands 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 textbooks for high schools. This includes the removal of all references about the evolutionary origins for humans and Archaeopteryx - a feathered dino that is believed to be the ancestral bird's first ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains how Earth and all living creatures came into existence. It is also a foundation of biology that helps scientists learn how living organisms function and develop. Evolution also shows the connections between different species. Scientists study evolution to better comprehend nature and make valuable discoveries such as new medicines.
The evidence for evolution of biological species is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains so much about the universe and life on earth and has been rigorously tested and confirmed over many years. Many people, and even religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory. It is important to note that evolutionary biology does not conflict with religious beliefs, as the theory deals only with processes, objects, and events within the physical world.
In fact, many religious people have come up with ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolutionary theory. For instance, some Christians believe that God created the universe through evolution and that humans have an ancestry with other animals.
It is crucial for science educators to stand up for the teaching of evolution. Unfortunately, in some countries around the world the anti-evolution movement is growing. 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 textbook content on the evolutionary history of horses and their ancestral avian species Archaeopteryx.
Although these are alarming developments, it is also important to keep in mind 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. Other scientists independently verify the evidence.
The majority of scientists agree with the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this belief vary. Scientists study evolution in order to discover practical solutions such as the development of new medicines or enhancing existing ones. Others do this to improve animal and plants species, typically to benefit of humans. Some scientists are simply curious, while others hold a a strong religious belief in God.
What is Creationism?
Creationists believe that God created all things in the universe. 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 typically divided into two categories: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
The most common type of creationist is known as the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in exactly the way described in the Bible. YECs believe that the biblical account of the creation's six days is literal, and that the universe and life on Earth was created only recently.
OECs aren't as known, but their beliefs are just as fierce like the YECs. OECs believe the universe and Earth are billions-of-years old and believe that evolution is a lie.
Both kinds of creationism deny the idea that scientific principles like natural selection and biogenesis can explain how life began on Earth. They claim that evolution is not possible because it requires the creation of a miracle, and the scientists who founded modern science rejected miracles out of fear of losing credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolutionary and also special creation, and consider their views to be "theistic evolution.” This is also referred to as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of the created species." This theory states that God creates species from scratch and then allows these to evolve over time. These evolutionary changes eventually will result in new species similar to the original.
Some creationists believe that God created all living things and the universe in one event known as the Great Flood. They believe that all the original species were created at the same moment and then gradually evolved. They also deny the notion of abiogenesis, and argue that the emergence of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is impossible.
In general, creationists are against teaching of evolution in schools. This position is supported by a myriad of professional associations which include the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education and the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. Some academic institutions and scientists are however more flexible and permit both creationism and evolution to be incorporated into their curricula.
What is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of creationism, they often think of the United States. However, South Korea is also the home of an anti-evolutionist movement. Publishers of high school textbooks have recently declared that they will be removing references to evolution from their textbooks. A group called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) is an independent organization that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research, has led the drive. The STR has scored its first victory by removing from textbooks examples of the evolution and ancestor of the bird, the Archeopteryx. It is now focusing on removing excerpts from Darwin's notorious finch research as well as on human evolution as well.
STR claims to have the support of 4000 families and individuals. Its mission is to cut 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 in the nation. A survey of the newest biology teachers revealed that a majority do not believe in evolution. The root causes are unclear but could be due to religion and the absence of full-time creation scientists in the United States.
The KACR has accomplished a lot through its lectures and seminar events. It also publishes a bimonthly magazine called Creation and the book. One of these was a textbook on natural sciences with a cosmological perspective. This sparked an interest among college communities. In This Internet site , a professor and minister began teaching Creation Science in one university and it is taught to this day.
On August 6-7 1993, KACR hosted a second International Symposium on Creation Research. The event was held in conjunction with the opening of the World Expo in Daejeon. Six lecturers from outside the country, including ICR's John Morris and Steven Austin, spoke to an audience of several thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given talks on creation science in major seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.