Evolution Korea
In the past, Korea's scientific community has been hesitant to engage with the creationists, fearing that doing so could boost the credibility of the group. The silence is no longer an option.
The STR has been campaigning to eliminate content from textbooks that describe evolution, such as the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an early bird's ancestor. This is just one aspect of how the development paradigm has changed.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a theory of science that explains changes in genetic traits over time. The theory is based on the fact that living organisms adjust to their environment, which can result in variations in genes or entire genomes. Over time the changes could lead to the emergence new species. The most popular theory of evolution is natural selection, which describes the process through which individuals with advantageous characteristics survive and reproduce more frequently than those with less favorable characteristics. In time, this disparity in reproduction may lead to the emergence of completely new species.
The term "evolution" is derived from Latin for unrolling or revealing has been used in a variety of different ways as the concept has changed in both science and elsewhere. Early evolutionists, such as Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather), believed that existing species evolved into new species in a planned manner. 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, attacked this idea and borrowed the term "evolution" from Geoffroy's student to describe the notion that existing species evolve into other species in a gradual and predictable manner.
Evolutionary biologists define evolution more recently as a process through which living creatures develop traits to improve their chances of living or conceiving offspring. Over time, this genetic variability can cause the emergence of entirely new physical or biological traits in the population. Such a shift in gene frequency is known as natural selection and it drives most evolutionary change. Changes that are not genetic, like 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 test of time and a multitude of scientific studies however, creationists have taken advantage of the idea that the theory is controversial and claim that it shouldn't be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists have won a few victories in their fight to remove evolution from textbooks for high school and have also gotten rid of any mention of the evolutionary history of humans as well as the Archaeopteryx feathered dinosaur thought to be an ancestral bird's parent.
Why is Evolution Important for Humanity?
Evolution explains how the Earth and all its living species came to be. It is also a foundation of biology and helps scientists to understand how living organisms work and grow. Evolution also shows how various species are connected. Scientists study evolution in order to better comprehend nature and make valuable discoveries, such as the development of new treatments.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains so much about the universe as well as life on earth, and it has been rigorously tested and verified over the course of many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in support of the scientific theory. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology does not conflict with religious beliefs, since the theory is based on processes, objects, and events within the physical world.
In fact many religious individuals have come up with ways to reconcile their beliefs with the theory of evolution. For instance, some Christians believe that God created the world through evolution and that humans share an ancestral connection with other animals.
It is crucial for science educators to stand up 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 measures to restrict teaching evolution. In South Korea, a group known as the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) which is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research is urging the removal of textbooks about the evolution of horses as well as the avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
It is important to remember that the evidence in favor of evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a wide range of sources, including fossils, genetic studies, and the behavior of living organisms. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The vast majority of scientists agree with the theory of evolution. This belief is based on many different reasons. Some scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries for example, such as the development of medicines and other treatments, while others are driven by the desire to improve the lives of animals and plant species, typically for the benefit of humans. Some are simply curious, while others have a profound faith in God and seek to understand how the universe functions.
What is Creationism?
Creationists believe that God created everything in the universe. They also believe that the Bible is the word of God and should be taken as such. Many creationists are Christians However, not all. Creationists are generally divided into two categories: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
The most well-known kind of creationist is called the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in the exact way that is described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of the creation's six days is literal and that the universe and the life on Earth began only recently.
OECs may be less well-known However, their beliefs are just as intense as those of YECs. OECs believe that the universe and life on Earth are billions of years old and they believe that evolution is an untruth.
Both types of creationism reject the notion that scientific principles like 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 a miracle, and that the founders of modern science eschewed miracles for fear of losing credibility.
Some creationists believe in naturalistic evolution as well as special creation, and consider their views to be "theistic evolution.†This is also known as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of the created species." In this belief system, God creates the original species, and then allows them to change over time. These evolutionary changes will eventually produce new species similar to the original.
Some creationists believe that God created all living things and the entire universe in one event known as the Great Flood. They believe that the first species were created simultaneously, and that they developed slowly afterwards. They deny the notion of abiogenesis, and argue that self-replicating life cannot arise from non-living matter.
In general, the creationists are opposed to the teaching of evolution in schools. Numerous professional organizations, such as the National Science Teachers Association and the Association for Science Teacher Education are in support of this view and so do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. Some scientists and educational institutions, however, are more flexible and allow both evolution and creationism to be incorporated into their curriculum.
What is Creationism?
When people think of the concept of creationism most often, they think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolutionist group. The publishers of high-school textbooks announced last week that they will remove the mention of evolution in 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 and has been the driving force behind the move. The STR has achieved its first victory by removing from textbooks examples of the evolution and ancestor of the avian, called the Archeopteryx. Its next target is to take out the finch-research of Darwin's famed as well as on human evolution.
STR claims that it has the backing of 4,000 families and individual members. Its goal is to weed out what it sees as the "atheist materialism" that creates a bleak website worldview for students. It also seeks to counter the influence of American Creationists in the nation. A survey of trainee biology teachers found that about half do not believe in evolution. The reasons aren't evident, but they could be due to religion or the absence of creation scientists in the US.
The KACR accomplished a number of things through its seminars and lectures in the past. It has a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. Among these is a textbook on the natural sciences, with a creationist viewpoint, which sparked interest in 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 6-7, 1993, coinciding with 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, spoke to a crowd of more than a thousand. KACR members and KACR have also presented lectures on creation science in prestigious seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.