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 content from textbooks that discuss evolution, including the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an ancestor of birds. This is only one aspect of how the concept of development has evolved.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a scientific theory that explains the evolution of genetic characteristics of living organisms over time. The theory is based upon the fact that living organisms adapt to their environment, which can result in variations in genes or whole genomes. Over the course of many generations these changes could result in the emergence of new species. Natural selection is the most popular theory of evolution. It explains how individuals who have advantages survive and reproduce more than those with less advantageous traits. This variation in reproduction could eventually lead to the development and emergence of new species.
The term "evolution", which comes from Latin for revealing or unrolling, has been used in many different ways as the concept has developed, both in science and elsewhere. Early evolutionists such as Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predestined to change into a new species. The term transmutation was coined by Lamarck's student, embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, to describe this view. Charles Lyell, who published the second volume of his Principles of Geology in 1833 opposed this notion and borrowed the term "evolution" from Geoffroy's student to describe the view that existing species change into other species in an orderly and predictable manner.
In recent years, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process that occurs when living organisms develop traits that enhance their chances of survival or the ability to reproduce offspring. In time, genetic variation can cause a population develop new physical characteristics or biological functions. Natural selection is the mechanism that triggers the majority of evolutionary changes. However other changes that are not genetic, such as increases in muscle mass from diet or exercise can't be considered examples of evolution since they're not inherited by the next generation.
Despite the fact that evolution has stood the tests of time and thousands of scientific tests, creationists have seized on the notion that the theory is controversial to argue that it should not be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists have gained a few victories in their efforts to eliminate evolution from textbooks for high school, including the removal of any references to the evolutionary roots of humans, as well as the Archaeopteryx, a feathered dinosaur believed to be an ancestor of birds.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains the origins of Earth and all living species. It is also one of the pillars of biology, and aids scientists to understand how living things function and develop. Evolution also helps us understand the connections between different species. Scientists study evolution in order to better understand nature and make useful discoveries like new drugs.
The evidence for evolution of biological species is overwhelming. No other scientific theory explains as much about the universe and life on this planet. It has been rigorously scrutinized and confirmed for a number of years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology doesn't contradict religious beliefs because it only deals with physical objects, events, and processes.
In reality, many religious people have come up with ways to reconcile their beliefs with the theory of evolution. Some Christians for instance believe that God created everything through evolution, and that humans share an ancestral connection to other animals.
It is important that scientists and educators speak out for teaching evolution. Unfortunately, in some countries around the world there is a growing anti-evolutionist sentiment. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit the teaching evolution. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC) is pushing for textbooks to include content on the evolutionary history of horses and their ancestral avian species Archaeopteryx.
While these are troubling changes, it's important to keep in mind that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution comes from many sources, such as fossils, genetics, and even the behavior of living creatures. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The majority of scientists support the theory of evolution. The reasons for this support vary. Some scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries that can lead to the development of new treatments and other treatments, while others are driven by a desire to improve animal and plant species, typically to benefit humans. Some are simply curious, and others have a profound faith in God and are seeking to know how the universe functions.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are those who believe that God created the universe and all that is in it. They also believe that the Bible is God's word and should be interpreted in a literal manner. 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 most popular kind of creationist is called the YEC. They believe that God created the universe exactly in the manner described in the Bible. YECs hold that the biblical account of 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 as those of YECs. OECs believe that the universe and all life on Earth are billions of years old, and they believe that evolution is a myth.
Both types of creationism reject that scientific principles such as biogenesis and natural selection could explain how life began on Earth. They claim that evolution is not possible because it requires miracles. The pioneers of modern scientific thought resisted miracles because they feared they would lose their credibility.
Some creationists are able to accept both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and call their belief "theistic evolution." This is sometimes also referred to as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the original species." The theory suggests that God creates species from scratch and then allows these to change over time. In the end these evolutionary changes will create new species that are similar to the original ones.
Others believe that God created the universe and all living things in one event, referred to as the Great Flood. These creationists hold that all the species of the beginning were created at the same time and then slowly evolved. They also deny the notion of abiogenesis, and argue that the emergence of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is not possible.
In general, creationists oppose teaching 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, the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. However, some academic institutions and scientists are more flexible and allow for the inclusion of creationism and evolution in their curriculum.
What is Creationism?
When people think of the concept of creationism most often, they think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolution group. The publishers of high-school textbooks recently announced that they would eliminate references to evolution in their textbooks. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent body which is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) is the one who has led this effort. The STR has achieved its first victory by removing from textbooks evidence of the evolution and ancestor of an avian, the Archeopteryx. Its next target is to eliminate the finch-research of Darwin's famed and also on human evolution.
STR claims that it has the support of around 4,000 families and individuals. Its mission is to cut out what it sees as the "atheist materialism" that creates a bleak worldview for students. It also seeks to counter the influence of American Creationists in the nation. 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 absence of creation scientists in the US.
The KACR achieved many things through its lectures and seminars in the past. It publishes a bimonthly magazine called Creation and the book. One of these was a textbook on natural sciences that had a creationist perspective. This sparked an interest in the college community. 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. It was held in conjunction with the opening of the World Expo in Daejeon. Six lecturers from the world, including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of several 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.