Evolution Korea
Up until recently, the Korean scientific community was hesitant about working with creationists due to the fear of giving the movement more credibility. Silence is no longer a viable option.
The STR has been fighting to remove evolution-related content from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestral bird. This is only one example of how the development paradigm has changed.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a theory of science that explains the changes in the genetic traits 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 whole genomes. Over time, these changes can lead to the emergence new species. Natural selection is the dominant theory of evolution. It describes how individuals who have advantages can reproduce faster and longer than those with less favorable traits. As time passes, this difference in reproduction can lead to the development of completely new species.
The term "evolution" comes from the Latin word meaning unrolling or revealing. However, the concept itself has had many different meanings since it took shape in the sciences and other fields. Some early evolutionists, including Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather), believed that existing species evolved into new species in a certain way. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire, Lamarck's embryologist disciple who invented the term "transmutation" to describe this idea. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, challenged the idea of evolution, and borrowed the term from Geoffroy’s student.
Recently evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process that occurs when living things develop characteristics that enhance their chances of survival or ability to produce offspring. As time passes, genetic variation can cause a population to develop new physical characteristics or biological functions. Such a shift in gene frequency 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 cannot be considered examples of evolution since they're not passed on to future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has withstood the test of time and thousands of scientific experiments however, creationists have taken advantage of the idea that the theory is controversial to claim that it shouldn't be taught in school. In South Korea, creationists have won a few victories in their campaign to exclude evolution from textbooks for high school and have also gotten rid of any references to the evolutionary roots of humans, as well as the Archaeopteryx feathered dinosaur that is thought to be the ancestral bird's parent.
Why is Evolution important to humanity?
Evolution explains how the Earth and all its living creatures came into existence. It is one of the fundamentals of biology and helps scientists understand how living things work and grow. Evolution also demonstrates how different species are connected. Scientists study evolution to gain a better understanding of the natural world, and also to make important discoveries like the development of new drugs.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains as much about the universe as the life on earth. It has been rigorously examined and confirmed for many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory. It is important to note that evolutionary biology does not conflict with religions, since the theory deals only with processes, objects, and events in the physical world.
In fact, many religious people have come up with ways to reconcile their beliefs with the theory of evolution. For instance some Christians believe that God created the universe through evolution and that humans share an ancestral lineage with other animals.
It is essential for science educators to support the teaching of evolution. In some countries, the opposition to evolution has been rising. In the United States, efforts to limit 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 textbooks to include content on the evolutionary history of horses and their ancestral avian species Archaeopteryx.
Although these are alarming changes, it's important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. 에볼루션 코리아 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 vast majority of scientists support the theory of evolution. This belief is based on a variety of reasons. Certain scientists are studying evolution to make practical discoveries such as the development of new medicines, while others do so to improve the quality of animal and plant species, typically to benefit of humans. Some are simply curious, while others have a profound faith in God and are seeking to understand how the universe functions.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are those who believe that God created the universe and everything in it. 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 generally fall into 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 in the exact way that is described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of the first six days of creation was literal and that the universe and the life on Earth were only created recently.
OECs might not be as known, but their beliefs are as fierce like the YECs. OECs believe that the universe as well as Earth are billions of years old, and believe that evolution is a myth.
Both forms of creationism reject the notion that scientific theories such as natural selection and abiogenesis could explain the origins of life on Earth. They argue that evolution is impossible, because it would require miracles. The founders of modern scientific thought shunned miracles out of fear they could lose their credibility.
Some creationists believe in naturalistic evolution and special creation, and refer to their belief as "theistic evolution." This is also referred to as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of the created species." In this view, God creates the original species, and then allows them to evolve over time. These evolutionary changes will eventually produce new species similar to the original.
Others believe that God created the universe and all living things in one event, known as the Great Flood. Creationists believe that all the species of the beginning were created at the same moment and that they gradually evolved. They also reject the concept of abiogenesis and claim that the creation of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is not possible.
In general, the creationists are against teaching of evolution in schools. This position is supported by a variety of 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. Some academic institutions and scientists are however more flexible and allow both evolution and creationism to be included in their curriculum.
What is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of the concept 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 recently that they will remove the mention of evolution in their books. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent body that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) is the one who has led this campaign. The STR has scored its first victory by removing from textbooks the evidence of the evolution and ancestor of the bird, the Archeopteryx. The next step is to take out portions of Darwin's notorious finch-research as well as on human evolution.
STR claims that it has the support of around 4,000 families and individuals. The goal, according to STR, is to rid the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" that paints an image of students as being negative. It also hopes to combat the influence of American creationists who live in the US. A survey of trainees in biology found that half did not believe evolution. The reasons aren't certain, but could be related to religious beliefs or the lack of creation scientists in the US.
The KACR has accomplished a lot in the past through seminars and lectures. It also publishes a bimonthly magazine called Creation and the book. The most notable of these is a text on the natural sciences with a creationist viewpoint, which sparked interest in college communities. In 1991, a professor and minister began teaching Creation Science in one university, and it is taught to this day.
On August 7 and 8 the 7th of August 1993, which coincided with the World Expo opened in Daejeon, KACR held a second International Symposium on Creation Research. Six lecturers from the world, including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of over a thousand. KACR and its members have given lectures on creation science at major seminaries as well. KACR plans to create a Creation Science Education Center in the future.