Evolution Korea
For a long time the Korean scientific community been hesitant to engage with creationists, afraid that it could increase the credibility of the movement. However, silence is no longer an option.
The STR has been battling to eliminate content from textbooks that describe evolution, including the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an early bird's ancestor. This is only one example of the way in which the development paradigm has changed.
What is Evolution?
The theory of evolution is a scientific one that explains the changes in the genetic traits of living organisms over time. The theory is based on fact that living things adapt to their environments, which can cause variations in genes or even complete genomes. These changes can over many generations result in the development of new species. The prevailing theory of evolution is called natural selection, which describes the process that allows people with advantages survive and reproduce more frequently than those with disadvantageous characteristics. Over time, this differential reproduction may lead to the emergence of completely new species.
The term "evolution" originates from the Latin for revealing or unrolling, has been used in many different ways as the concept has evolved in both science and elsewhere. Early evolutionists like Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predetermined to change into another species. The term"transmutation" was coined by the Lamarck's disciple embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire to describe this notion. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, criticized the idea of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy's student.
Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process in which living creatures develop traits that increase their chances of living or producing offspring. As time passes, genetic variation can cause a population develop new physical traits or biological functions. The change in gene frequencies is known as natural selection and is the primary driver behind evolutionary changes. However non-genetic changes like increases in the muscle mass as a result of exercise or diet cannot be considered to be examples of evolution since they are not passed on to future generations.
Creationists are using the argument that evolution is controversial in spite of the fact that it has been proven to be accurate by thousands of scientific tests and that it has been tested over time. They claim that the theory should not be taught at school. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories against evolution in textbooks for high school. This includes the removal of all references about the evolutionary origins for humans and Archaeopteryx which is a feathered dinosaur that is believed to be the ancestor Www.evolutionkr.Kr of birds.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains the origins of Earth and all living species. It is also a foundation of biology that helps scientists to understand how living organisms work and grow. Evolution also shows how different species are linked. Scientists study evolution to understand the natural world and to discover useful information including the development of new drugs.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that can explain so many aspects of the universe and life on earth and has been rigorously tested and verified over a long period of time. Many people, including some religious leaders, believe in the theory of evolution as a scientific fact. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology doesn't contradict religious beliefs because it only addresses physical objects, events and processes.
In reality, many religious people have found ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolution. Some Christians, for example, believe that God created everything through evolution and that humans have an ancestral connection to other animals.
It is important for science educators to advocate for the teaching of evolution. In some countries, anti-evolution sentiment is growing. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit teaching of evolution. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) which is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research is pushing for the elimination of textbook content about the evolution of horses as well as the bird ancestor Archaeopteryx.
While these are disturbing changes, it's important to keep in mind that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a broad 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. The reasons behind this belief are diverse. Some scientists are studying evolution to discover practical solutions such as the development of new medicines and other treatments, while others use it to improve the lives of animals and plant species, typically to benefit humans. Some are simply curious, while still others have a deep faith in God and are seeking 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 literally. 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 YECs are perhaps the most well known form of creationist, and they believe that God created the world in the exact way described in the Bible. YECs 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 popular, but their beliefs are just as fierce as the YECs. OECs believe that the universe and all life on Earth are billions of years old and that evolution is an untruth.
Both forms of creationism deny that scientific principles such as natural selection and biogenesis can explain how life began on Earth. They argue that evolution is inconceivable because it requires miracles. The pioneers of modern science shunned miracles out of fear they could lose their credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolutionary and also special creation. They consider their views to be "theistic evolution." This is sometimes called "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the original species." The theory suggests that God creates species from scratch and then allows these to evolve over time. Eventually these evolutionary changes will produce new species that are identical to the original species.
Others believe that God created the universe and all living things in one event, called the Great Flood. They believe that the original species were all created at the same time and that they evolved slowly afterwards. They reject the concept of abiogenesis and claim that self-replicating living cannot come from nonliving matter.
In general, creationists are opposed to the teaching of evolution in schools. Numerous professional associations, such as the National Science Teachers Association and the Association for Science Teacher Education support this position as do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. However, certain researchers and educational institutions are more flexible, and allow the inclusion of creationism and evolution in their curricula.
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 have recently declared that they will be removing references to evolution from their textbooks. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent organization that is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) has been the driving force behind this drive. STR has won its first victory in eliminating instances of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor, the Archeopteryx from textbooks. The focus is now on removing excerpts from Darwin's infamous finch research and on human evolution too.
STR claims that it has the backing of 4,000 families as well as individual members. Its mission, it states, is to rid the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" that paints a negative view for students. It also seeks to counter the influence of American Creationists in the nation. A survey of biology students teachers found that about half do not believe in evolution. The reasons for this are not clear, but may include religion and the absence of full-time creation scientists across the country.
The KACR has achieved a lot through its seminars and lectures in the past. It publishes a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of them was a textbook on natural sciences with a cosmological perspective. It sparked interest in college communities. In 1991 an academic and minister started teaching Creation Science in one university and it continues to be taught to this day.
On August 6-7 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 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 the subject of creation science at major seminaries. KACR is planning to create a Creation Science Education Center.