Evolution Korea
For a long time the Korean scientific community avoided engaging with the creationists, fearing that doing so might increase the credibility of the movement. But 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 example of the way in which the development paradigm has evolved.
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 creatures adapt to their environment, which can result in variations in genes or whole genomes. Over 에볼루션 , these changes can result in the creation of new species. The prevailing theory of evolution is known as natural selection, which explains the process that allows individuals with advantageous characteristics survive and reproduce more often than those with less favorable characteristics. This variation in reproduction could be a catalyst to the development and emergence of new species.
The word "evolution" originates from the Latin for revealing or unrolling has been used in many different ways as the concept has developed, both in science and in 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. The term transmutation was coined by the Lamarck's disciple, embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, to describe this idea. 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 view that existing species change into new species in an orderly and predictable manner.
Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process through which living organisms develop traits to increase their chances of living or producing offspring. As time passes, this genetic variability can lead to the emergence of entirely new physical or biological functions in a population. Natural selection is the process that drives the most evolutionary changes. Non-genetic changes, such as an increase in muscle mass from exercise or diet, cannot be considered to be evolution since they aren't passed down to future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has withstood the test of time and thousands of scientific studies however, creationists have taken advantage of the idea that evolution is controversial and argue that it shouldn't be taught in school. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories over evolution in high school textbooks. This includes the removal of all references to the evolutionary roots of humans as well as Archaeopteryx which is a feathered dinosaur believed to be the ancestral bird's first ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains how Earth and all its living creatures came into existence. It is also one of the pillars of biology, and aids scientists to understand how living things function and develop. Evolution also reveals the relationships between species. Scientists study evolution to better understand nature and make useful discoveries such as new drugs.
The evidence for biological evolution is overwhelming. No other scientific theory explains more about the universe as the life on our planet. It has been thoroughly examined and confirmed for many years. Many people, including religious leaders, believe in the theory of evolution as a scientific fact. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology doesn't interfere with religious beliefs, since the theory is based on processes, objects, and events in the physical world.
Many religious people have come up with a way of reconciling evolution with their convictions. For instance some Christians believe that God created the universe through evolution and that humans have an ancestral lineage with other animals.
It is important that scientists and educators speak out for the teaching of evolution. In certain countries, anti-evolution sentiment has been rising. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit teaching evolution. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC) is pushing for textbooks to include content on the evolutionary history 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 variety of sources, including 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 vary. Scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries, such as developing medications or developing new medicines, while others are driven by the desire to improve the lives of animals and plant species, generally to benefit humans. Some are simply curious, and still others have a deep religious belief in God and seek to understand how the universe functions.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are those who believe that God created the universe and everything within it. They also believe the Bible is God's word and should be interpreted in a literal manner. Many creationists are Christians however, not all. Creationists are generally divided into two groups: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
The YECs are the best known type of creationist and they believe that God created the universe exactly as 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 just as intense as the YECs. OECs believe that the universe and life on Earth are billions of years old and 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 isn't possible because it would require an extraordinary event, and that the founders of modern science rejected miracles out of fear of losing credibility.
Some creationists are able to accept naturalistic evolution as well as special creation, and call their view "theistic evolution." It is sometimes known as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the created species." This theory states that God creates species from scratch and allows them to evolve over time. These evolutionary changes will eventually produce new species similar to the original.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things during a single event, referred to as the Great Flood. They believe that all the species of the beginning were created at the same moment and then slowly evolved. They also reject the idea of abiogenesis, and argue that the self-replicating creation of organisms from nonliving matter is not possible.
In general, creationists are against teaching evolution in schools. This is supported by numerous professional organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education, the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. However, some scientists and educational institutions are more flexible, and allow for the inclusion of both evolution and creationism in their curriculum.
What is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of the concept of creationism, a lot think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolution group. The publishers of high school textbooks announced last week that they would eliminate references to evolution from their books. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent body that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) has been the driving force behind this campaign. The STR has scored its first victory by removing from textbooks the evidence of the evolution and ancestor of the avian, called the Archeopteryx. The next goal is to eliminate excerpts from Darwin’s infamous finch-research as well as on human evolution.
STR claims to have the support of around 4,000 families and individuals. Its mission, it states is to clear the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" that paints an image of students as being negative. It also seeks to counter the influence of American Creationists in the nation. A survey of the newest biology teachers revealed that a majority do not believe in the concept of evolution. The causes are not certain, but could be related to religious beliefs or the absence of creation scientists in the country.
The KACR achieved many things through its seminars and lectures in the past. It publishes a bimonthly journal called Creation and the book. One of them is a textbook on the natural sciences, with an evolutionary perspective that attracted the attention of college communities. In 1991, a professor, along with a minister, began teaching Creation Science at one university. It is still taught to students 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, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of over a thousand. KACR and its members have been delivering lectures on creation science at major seminaries as well. KACR is planning to create a Creation Science Education Center.