Evolution Korea
In the past, the Korean scientific community resisted engaging with the creationists out of fear of giving the movement more credence. However, silence is no anymore an option.
The STR has been fighting to remove information about evolution from textbooks including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestral bird. This is only one example of how the concept of development has changed.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a scientific theory that explains the changes in the genetic characteristics of living organisms over time. The theory is based upon the fact that living organisms adapt to their environment, which can result in changes to genes or entire genomes. Over the course of many generations these changes could lead to the emergence new species. Natural selection is the most popular theory of evolution. It explains how people who have advantages can reproduce faster and longer than those with less advantageous traits. As time passes, this difference in reproduction could lead to the development of entirely new species.
The term "evolution" is derived from the Latin word for unraveling or revealing, however the concept itself has a myriad of meanings over the years as it has taken form in the fields of science and in other fields. Early evolutionists like Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predestined to change into another species. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire was Lamarck's embryologist student who invented the term "transmutation" to describe this theory. 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 notion that existing species change into other species in a gradual and predictable way.
Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process through which living creatures develop traits that increase their chances of surviving or producing offspring. Over time, genetic variability can cause a population acquire new physical traits or biological functions. The variation in gene frequencies is known as natural selection and is the primary driver behind evolutionary changes. However non-genetic changes like the increase in muscle mass due to diet or exercise can't be considered to be examples of evolution because they are not passed on to future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has withstood the test of time and a multitude of scientific studies, creationists have seized on the idea that the theory is controversial and argue that it shouldn't be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists have won a few victories in their efforts to eliminate evolution from high school textbooks which includes the removal of any mention of the evolutionary origins of humans as well as the Archaeopteryx, a feathered dinosaur that is thought to be an ancestor of birds.
Why is Evolution Important to Humanity?
Evolution explains the origins and evolution of Earth and all living species. It is also one of the foundations of biology, and aids scientists to understand how living things function and grow. Evolution also shows how different species are connected. Scientists study evolution to better comprehend nature and make important discoveries, such as the development of new medicines.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. No other scientific theory explains more about the universe as the life on our planet. It has been thoroughly scrutinized and confirmed for a number of years. Many people, even some religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology doesn't contradict religious beliefs, since the theory deals only with processes, objects, and events within the physical world.
In reality many religious individuals have come up with ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolutionary theory. For example, some Christians believe that God created the world through evolution and that humans have an ancestral connection with other animals.
It is essential that scientists and educators speak out for the teaching of evolution. In certain countries, anti-evolution sentiment has been growing. In the United States, efforts to restrict the teaching of evolution have made headway in a few states. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC) is a campaign for textbook content on the evolution of horses and their Avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
While these are disturbing changes, it's 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 even the behavior of living creatures. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The majority of scientists supports the theory of evolution. This support is based on a variety of reasons. Certain scientists study evolution in order to discover practical solutions for example, such as the development of treatments, while others are motivated by the desire to improve the lives of animals and plant species, generally to benefit humans. Some are simply curious, and others have a profound faith in God and want to know how the universe functions.
What is Creationism?
Creationists believe that God created everything in the universe. 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 typically fall into one of two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The most popular type of creationist is known as the YEC. They believe that God created the universe exactly in the way that is described in the Bible. YECs hold that the biblical account of six days of creation was literal and that the universe and life on Earth were only created recently.
OECs are less well known however they are just as enthusiastic about their beliefs as YECs. OECs believe that the universe and all 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 can explain the origin of life on Earth. They argue that evolution is impossible, because it requires miracles. The pioneers of modern scientific thought shunned miracles because they feared they would lose their credibility.
Some creationists are able to accept both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and refer to their position "theistic evolution." This is sometimes also called "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the original species." In this theory, God creates the original species and allows them to evolve over time. Then these evolutionary changes will create new species that are identical to the original species.
Other creationists believe that God created the universe and all living things during a single event, known as the Great Flood. These creationists hold that all the species of the beginning were created at the same time and that they gradually evolved. They reject the concept of abiogenesis, and argue that self-replicating life can't come from non-living matter.
In general, the creationists are opposed to the teaching of evolution in schools. This is supported by a variety of professional organizations, including the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education as well as the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. similar site and educational institutions are however more flexible and permit both evolution and creationism to be incorporated into their curriculum.
What is Creationism?
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 have recently declared that they will be removing references to evolution from their books. 에볼루션 for Textbook Revise, an independent body that is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) is the one who has led this campaign. The STR has achieved its first victory by removing from textbooks the evidence of the evolution and ancestor of the avian, called the Archeopteryx. The focus is now on removing excerpts from Darwin's infamous finch research and on human evolution as well.
STR claims that it has the support of around 4000 families and individuals. similar site is to root out what it sees as the "atheist materialism" that reflects a hopeless worldview for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American creationists in the country. A survey of trainee biology teachers found that about half do not believe in evolution. The root causes are unclear however, they could be related to religion and the absence of full-time creation scientists in the country.
The KACR achieved many things through its lectures and seminars in the past. It publishes a bimonthly magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of them was an educational textbook on natural sciences that had a creationist perspective. This led to an interest in the college community. 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 and 7, 1993, KACR hosted a second International Symposium on Creation Research. This 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 addressed an audience of several thousand. KACR and its members have been delivering lectures on creation science at major seminaries as well. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center in the future.