Evolution Korea
For a long time, the Korean scientific community avoided engaging with the creationists out of fear of giving the movement more credence. The silence is no longer an option.
The STR has been battling to get rid of textbooks that explain evolution, including the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an ancestral bird's ancestor. However, this is just one aspect of the evolution of the development paradigm.
What is Evolution?
The theory of evolution is a scientific one that explains the change in the genetic characteristics of living organisms over time. The theory is based on fact that living organisms adapt to their environment, which can cause variations in genes or even whole 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 are more likely to reproduce and survive than those with less advantageous traits. This variation in reproduction could, over time, lead to the development and emergence of new species.
The term "evolution" is derived from the Latin for revealing or unrolling has been used in many different ways as the concept has changed, both in science as well as elsewhere. 무료에볼루션 like Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predetermined to change into another species. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire was Lamarck's embryologist pupil who came up with the term "transmutation" to describe this view. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, criticized the idea of evolution, and borrowed the term from Geoffroy’s student.
More recently, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process when living organisms develop traits that enhance their chances of survival, or their ability to reproduce offspring. In time the genetic variability could cause the emergence of entirely new physical or biological traits in the same population. Natural selection is the mechanism that triggers the majority of evolutionary changes. However, non-genetic changes such as increases in muscle mass from diet or exercise can't be considered examples of evolution since they are not inherited by future generations.
Creationists have a tendency to use the argument that evolution is controversial even though it has been proven valid by a multitude of scientific tests and it has been tested over time. They argue that the theory should not be taught at school. In South Korea, creationists have won a few victories in their fight to remove evolution from textbooks for high school, including the removal of references to the evolutionary origins of humans as well as the Archaeopteryx, a feathered dinosaur believed to be the ancestor of birds.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains how the Earth and all its living species evolved. It is also one of the foundations of biology and helps scientists discover how living things operate and develop. Evolution also shows the connections between species. Scientists study evolution to better understand nature and make useful discoveries, such as the development of new medicines.
The evidence for evolution of biological species is overwhelming. No other scientific theory explains as much about the universe and the life on earth. It has been rigorously scrutinized and confirmed for a number of years. Many people, including some religious leaders, are in favor of the theory of evolution as a scientific fact. It is crucial to keep in mind that evolutionary biology does not interfere with religious beliefs since it only focuses on physical objects, events, and processes.
In fact many religious individuals have discovered ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolutionary theory. For instance some Christians believe that God created the universe through evolution and that humans share an ancestral connection with other animals.
It is important that scientists and educators speak out for teaching evolution. In certain countries, the anti-evolution movement is growing. In the United States some states have taken measures to restrict teaching of evolution. 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 avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
While these are disturbing developments, it is important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a wide range of sources, such as 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. This support is based on many different reasons. Scientists study evolution to discover practical solutions for example, such as the development of medications and other treatments, while others are driven by an interest in improving the quality of life for animals and plant species, generally to benefit humans. Some are simply curious, and still others have a deep religious belief in God and want 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 seriously. Many creationists are Christians however, not all. Creationists generally fall in one of two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The YECs are perhaps the most well known type of creationist and they believe that God created the world in the exact way 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 was created only recently.
OECs might not be as well-known however their beliefs are as intense as those of YECs. OECs believe that the universe and life on Earth are billions of years old and that evolution is an untruth.
Both types of creationism reject the notion that scientific principles such as natural selection and abiogenesis can explain the origins of life on Earth. They argue that evolution is not possible because it would require miracles. The pioneers of modern scientific thought shunned miracles out of fear they would lose their credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolutionary as well as special creation. They consider their views to be "theistic evolution." This is sometimes also known as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from created kinds." The theory suggests that God creates species from scratch and allows them to evolve over time. These evolution changes will eventually result in new species similar to the original.
Some creationists believe that God created all living things and the entire universe in one event called the Great Flood. They believe that the original species were all created simultaneously, and that they evolved gradually afterward. They reject the idea of abiogenesis and claim that self-replicating living cannot come from nonliving matter.
In general, creationists are against teaching evolution in schools. Numerous professional organizations, like the National Science Teachers Association and the Association for Science Teacher Education endorse this view, as do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. However, some academic institutions and scientists are more flexible, and permit the inclusion of both evolution and creationism in their curricula.
What exactly is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of the concept of creationism most often, they think of the United States. However, South Korea is also home to an anti-evolutionist movement. The publishers of high-school textbooks announced last week that they will remove references to evolution from their books. 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 achieved its first victory by removing from textbooks examples of the evolution and ancestor of the bird, the Archeopteryx. Its next target is to take out excerpts from Darwin’s infamous finch-research as well as on human evolution.
STR claims that it has the support of 4,000 families and individuals. Its mission is to cut out what it sees as the "atheist materialism" that paints an unhopeful worldview for students. It also aims to counteract the influence of American creationists in the country. A survey of students in biology revealed that half of them did not believe in evolution. The reasons for this are not clear but could be due to religion and the absence of full-time creation scientists in the country.
The KACR has achieved many things in the past through lectures and seminar events. It publishes a bimonthly magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of these was a textbook on natural sciences with a creationist stance. This sparked an interest among college communities. In 1991, a professor along with a minister, began teaching Creation Science at one university. It is still taught today.
On August 6th and 7th of 1993, KACR hosted a second International Symposium on Creation Research. It 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 presented to an audience of several thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given lectures on creation science in major seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center.