Evolution Korea
Up until recently, the Korean scientific community avoided engaging with creationists for fear of giving the movement more credibility. The silence is no longer a viable option.
The STR has been fighting to get the content on evolution from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestor bird. This is only one aspect of the evolution of the development paradigm.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a theory of science that explains the evolution of genetic traits over time. The theory is based upon the fact that living creatures adapt to their environment, which could result in variations in genes or whole genomes. These changes can over many generations lead to the creation of new species. Natural selection is the predominant theory of evolution. It explains how people with advantageous traits are more likely to reproduce and survive than those with disadvantageous ones. As time passes, this difference in reproduction may lead to the emergence of completely new species.
The word "evolution" comes from the Latin word for unrolling or revealing. However, the concept has had a variety of meanings as it has taken shape in the sciences and other fields. Some early evolutionists, like Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather), believed that existing species transformed into other species in a predetermined fashion. The term"transmutation" was coined by Lamarck's disciple, embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire to describe this notion. similar site , in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, challenged the idea of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy's student.
More recently, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process that occurs when living things develop characteristics that enhance their chances of survival, or their ability to reproduce offspring. As time passes the genetic variability could cause the emergence of completely new biological functions or physical traits in the population. Natural selection is the process that drives the majority of evolutionary changes. However non-genetic changes like the growth in the muscle mass as a result of exercise or diet cannot be considered examples of evolution since they're not inherited by the next generation.
Creationists have a tendency to use 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 argue that the theory shouldn't be taught at school. In South Korea, creationists won some victories against evolution in high school textbooks. This includes the removal of all references about the evolutionary origins for humans as well as Archaeopteryx - a feathered dino that is believed to be the bird's ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains the origins and evolution of Earth and all living species. It is also a foundation of biology that helps scientists comprehend how living organisms operate and grow. Evolution also shows the connections between different species. Scientists study evolution to better comprehend nature and make important discoveries like new treatments.
The evidence for biological evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains so many aspects of the universe and life on Earth and has been rigorously tested and verified over the course of many years. Many people, including 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 people have discovered ways to reconcile their beliefs with the theory of evolution. Certain Christians, for example, believe that God created everything through evolution and that humans share an ancestral connection to other animals.
It is crucial that science educators stand up for the teaching of evolution. In some nations around the world, anti-evolution sentiment is growing. 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, an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC), is campaigning for textbooks that cover the evolution of horses and their Avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
Although these are alarming developments, it is important to keep in mind that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a diverse range of sources, such as fossils, genetic studies and the behavior of living organisms. Other scientists independently verify the evidence.
The vast majority of scientists supports the theory of evolution. The reasons for this support are diverse. Some scientists study evolution in order to discover practical solutions such as the development of new medicines, while others do so to improve the lives of animals and plant species, mostly to benefit humans. Some are simply curious, whereas others have a deep faith in God and are seeking to know how the universe works.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are people who believe that God created the universe and all that is 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 are generally divided into two categories: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
YECs are the most well known type of creationist, and they believe that God created the world exactly as described in the Bible. YECs hold that the biblical account of the six days of creation was true and that the universe and life on Earth were only created recently.
OECs may be less well-known However, their beliefs are as intense like 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 forms of creationism deny that scientific theories such as natural selection and abiogenesis can explain the origins of life on Earth. They argue that evolution isn't possible because it would require an extraordinary event, and that the scientists who founded modern science rejected miracles out of fear of losing credibility.
Some creationists believe in naturalistic evolution as well as special creation, and consider their views to be "theistic evolution." It is sometimes known as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from 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.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things in one event, known as the Great Flood. They believe that the first species were created at the same time, and that they developed gradually afterward. They reject the idea of abiogenesis, and argue that self-replicating life cannot arise from nonliving matter.
In general, creationists oppose the teaching of evolution at schools. This position is supported by a variety of professional organizations, including the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education as well as the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. Some academic institutions and scientists, however, are 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 creationism, they often think of the United States. However, South Korea is also the home of an anti-evolutionist movement. The publishers of high school textbooks have recently declared that they will be removing references to evolution from their books. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent body which is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR), has led this campaign. STR has won its first victory in taking away instances of the evolution of the horse as well as an avian ancestor called the Archeopteryx in textbooks. The focus is now on removing excerpts from Darwin's notorious finch research as well as on human evolution as well.
STR claims that it has the backing of 4,000 families and members. Its goal, it says is to cleanse the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" which portrays an unflattering image for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American creationists in the United States. A survey of trainee biology teachers found that about half do not believe in evolution. The reasons for this aren't entirely evident, but they could be due to religion or the absence of creation scientists in the country.
The KACR has accomplished a lot through its 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 an evolutionary perspective that attracted the attention of college communities. In 1991 the year 1991, a minister and professor started teaching Creation Science in one university, and it is taught until today.
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 a few thousand. KACR members and KACR have also presented lectures on the subject of creation science at major seminaries. KACR plans to create a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.