Evolution Korea
In the past the Korean scientific community resisted working with creationists due to the fear of giving the movement more credence. Silence is no longer an option.
The STR has been fighting to remove the content on evolution from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestral bird. However, this is just one aspect of the evolution of the development paradigm.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a concept in science that explains changes in genetic traits over time. The theory is based on fact that living organisms adapt to their environment, which can cause variations in genes or even complete genomes. These changes can, over generations lead to the emergence of new species. Natural selection is the predominant theory of evolution. It describes how individuals with advantageous traits can reproduce faster and longer than those with disadvantageous ones. As time passes, this difference in reproduction can lead to the development of completely new species.
The term "evolution" originates from the Latin word for unrolling or revealing, but the concept itself has a myriad of meanings as it has taken form in the fields of science and elsewhere. Early evolutionists like Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predestined to change into a new species. Etienne Geoffroy St.Hilaire was Lamarck's embryologist pupil who coined the term "transmutation" to describe this view. 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 species are evolving into new species in a gradual and predictable manner.
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, this genetic variability can result in the development of entirely new physical or biological functions in the same population. This variation in gene frequencies is called natural selection, and is the primary driver behind evolutionary changes. However other changes that are not genetic, such as the growth in muscle mass from diet or exercise can't be considered to be examples of evolution because they are not inherited by future generations.
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 it has stood the test of time. They argue that the theory should not be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists won some victories against evolution in textbooks for high school. This includes the removal of references to the evolutionary roots of humans as well as Archaeopteryx which is a feathered dinosaur that is believed to be the ancestral bird's first ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important to Humanity?
Evolution explains the origins of Earth and all living species. It is one of the fundamentals of biology, and aids scientists to understand how living things function and grow. Evolution also helps us understand the connections between different species. Scientists study evolution to better comprehend nature and make valuable discoveries such as new drugs.
The evidence for biological evolution is overwhelming. No other scientific theory explains more about the universe and life on earth. It has been thoroughly scrutinized and confirmed for a number of years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in support of the scientific theory. It is important to note that evolutionary biology does not interfere with religious beliefs, since the theory is based on things, events and processes within the physical world.
Many religious people have discovered a way to reconcile evolution with their beliefs. For example, some Christians believe that God created the world through evolution and that humans have an ancestry with other animals.
It is important for science educators to advocate for the teaching of evolution. In certain countries, anti-evolution sentiment is growing. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit the teaching evolution. In South Korea, a group known as the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC) is a campaign for textbooks that cover the evolution of horses and their ancestral avian species Archaeopteryx.
It is important to remember that the evidence in favor of evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a broad range of sources, such as fossils, genetic studies, and the behavior of living organisms. Other scientists independently verify the evidence.
The majority of scientists support the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this support vary. Certain scientists study evolution in order to make practical discoveries that can lead to the development of new medications, while others are motivated by a desire to improve animal and plant species, generally for the benefit of humans. Some are simply curious, while others have a profound religious belief in God and are seeking to know how the universe works.
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 generally fall in two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The YECs are the best known type of creationist, and they believe that God created the universe in the exact way described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of the creation's six days is true, and that the universe and the life on Earth started only recently.
OECs are not as well-known however they are as enthusiastic about their beliefs as YECs. OECs believe that the universe and Earth are billions-of-years old and 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 requires an extraordinary event, and that the founders of modern science eschewed miracles for fear that they would lose credibility.
Some creationists accept both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and refer to their belief "theistic evolution." This is also known as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of the created species." This theory states that God creates original species and then allows these to evolve over time. These evolutionary changes eventually will result in new species similar to the original.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things in one event, known as the Great Flood. They believe that all species were created at the same moment and then slowly evolved. They also deny the notion of abiogenesis and argue that the self-replicating creation of organisms from nonliving matter is unattainable.
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 are in support of this view and so do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. Some academic institutions and scientists are, however, more flexible and allow both creationism and evolution to be included in their curriculum.
What is Creationism?
When people think of creationism typically think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolutionist group. The publishers of high school textbooks announced last week that they would eliminate the mention of evolution in their books. A group dubbed the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) is an independent organization that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research which is the driving force behind the campaign. STR has secured its first victory by eliminating instances of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor, called the Archeopteryx from textbooks. The next goal is to eliminate portions of Darwin's notorious finch-research as well as on human evolution.
STR claims to have the backing of 4,000 families and members. Its mission, it states is to clear the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" which portrays an image of students as being negative. It also seeks to counter 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 aren't clear however, they could be related to religious beliefs and the lack of full-time creation scientists across the country.
The KACR achieved many things through its seminars and lectures in the past. It publishes a bimonthly magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of these was an educational textbook on natural sciences that had a creationist perspective. This led to an interest in the college community. In 1991 an academic and minister began teaching Creation Science in one university, and it continues to be taught to this day.
On August 6-7, 1993, coinciding with the World Expo opened in Daejeon, KACR held a second International Symposium on Creation Research. 바카라 에볼루션 from abroad including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of a few thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given lectures on creation science in major seminaries. KACR intends to establish a Creation Science Education Center.
