Evolution Korea
Until recently, Korea's scientific community has avoided engaging with the creationists in fear that doing so might give the movement more credibility. Silence is no longer an alternative.
The STR has been fighting to eliminate evolution-related content from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestor bird. However, this is just one aspect of the evolution of the developmental paradigm.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a scientific theory that explains the changes in the genetic traits of living organisms over time. The theory is based on fact that living organisms adapt to their environments and this can lead to changes in genes or even whole genomes. Over many generations the changes could result in the emergence of new species. Natural selection is the predominant theory of evolution. It explains how individuals with traits that are advantageous can reproduce faster and longer than those with less favorable traits. In time, this disparity in reproduction could lead to the emergence of completely new species.
The term "evolution" originates from Latin for revealing or unrolling, has been used in a variety of different ways as the concept has evolved, both in science and in other fields. Early evolutionists 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, Lamarck's embryologist pupil who invented the term "transmutation" to describe this idea. Charles Lyell, who published the second volume of his Principles of Geology in 1833, attacked this idea and borrowed the term "evolution" from Geoffroy's student to describe the view that species are evolving into different species in an orderly and predictable manner.
Evolutionary biologists define evolution more recently as a process by which living things develop characteristics that increase their chances of surviving or producing offspring. In time, this genetic variability can result in the development of completely new biological functions or physical traits in a population. Natural selection is the process that drives the most evolutionary changes. Changes that are not genetic, like an increase in muscle mass through exercise or diet, can't be considered to be evolution since they don't pass on to the next generation.
Despite the fact that evolution has stood the tests of time and thousands of scientific studies Creationists have taken advantage of the idea that the theory is controversial to argue that it shouldn't be taught in school. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories over evolution in textbooks for high schools. This includes the removal of all references to the evolutionary roots of humans as well as Archaeopteryx - a feathered dino which is believed to be the bird's ancestor.
Why is Evolution important to humanity?
Evolution explains how the Earth and all living species evolved. It is also a foundation of biology, and aids scientists learn how living organisms function and grow. Evolution also shows the connections between species. Scientists study evolution to better understand the natural world, and to make useful discoveries like the development of new treatments.
The evidence for biological evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that can explain so much about the universe as well as life on Earth and has been rigorously tested and verified over the course of many years. Many people, and even religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory. It is essential to remember that evolutionary biology does not interfere with religious beliefs since it only focuses on physical objects, events and processes.
Many religious people have come up with a way of reconciling evolution with their beliefs. For instance some Christians believe that God created the world through evolution and that humans share an ancestral connection with other animals.
It is crucial for scientists to support the teaching of evolution. In some countries, the opposition to evolution is growing. In the United States, efforts to limit the teaching of evolution have made some progress in some 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 that cover the evolutionary history 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, including 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 belief is based on many different reasons. Some scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries, such as developing medicines and other treatments, while others are driven by the desire to improve the lives of animals and plant species, usually to benefit humans. Some scientists are simply curious, while others have an intense belief in God.
What is Creationism?
Creationists believe that God created all things in the universe. 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 kind of creationist is called the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in exactly the way that is described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of six days of creation was literal and that the universe and the life on Earth were created only recently.
OECs may be less known however their beliefs are as fierce like those of YECs. OECs believe that the universe and life on Earth are billions of years old and that evolution is a myth.
Both types of creationism reject the notion that scientific theories such as natural selection and abiogenesis could explain the origin of life on Earth. They claim that evolution is not possible because it requires miracles. The founders of modern scientific thought resisted miracles because they feared they could lose their credibility.
Some creationists are able to accept both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and refer to their position "theistic evolution." This is sometimes also referred to as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the original species." In this view, God creates the original species and then allows them to change over time. These evolutionary changes will eventually produce 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 all the original species were created at the same moment and that they gradually evolved. They deny the notion of abiogenesis and claim that self-replicating life cannot arise from non-living matter.
In general, creationists oppose the teaching of evolution in schools. Numerous professional organizations, such as 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, certain scientists and educational institutions are more flexible and allow the inclusion of both evolution and creationism 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 textbooks for high school students have recently announced that they will remove references to evolution from their textbooks. A group dubbed 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. STR has achieved its first victory by eliminating examples of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor, called the Archeopteryx, from textbooks. The focus is now on removing snippets of Darwin's notorious finch research and on human evolution, too.
STR claims that it has the support of 4,000 families as well as individual members. Its mission is to cut out what it believes is the "atheist materialism" that paints an unhopeful worldview for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American Creationists across the country. A survey of students in biology revealed that a majority of them didn't believe in evolution. The reasons for this aren't entirely evident, but they could be due to religious beliefs or the lack of creation scientists in the country.
The KACR has accomplished a lot through its seminars and lectures. It publishes a bimonthly journal called Creation and an ebook. One of them was an educational textbook on natural sciences that had a creationist perspective. This sparked an interest among college communities. In 1991, a professor, together with a minister began teaching Creation Science at one university. It is still taught in the present.
On August 7 and 8, 1993, coinciding with the World Expo opened in Daejeon, KACR held a second International Symposium on Creation Research. Six check here lecturers from the world, including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of a few thousand. KACR and its members have been delivering lectures on creation science at major seminaries, too. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center.