Evolution Korea
Up until recently the Korean scientific community avoided engaging with creationists for fear of giving the movement more credibility. Silence is no longer an option.
The STR has been battling to remove content from textbooks that discuss evolution, including the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an early bird's ancestor. This is just one aspect of how the concept of development has evolved.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a concept in science that explains the evolution of genetic traits over time. The theory is based on fact that living organisms adapt to their surroundings, which can cause variations in genes, or even entire genomes. Over time these changes could lead to the emergence new species. The predominant theory of evolution is natural selection, which describes the process by which individuals with advantageous characteristics survive and reproduce more often than those with disadvantageous characteristics. This differential reproduction can, over time, lead to the development and emergence of new species.
The word "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 such as Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predetermined to change into a new species. The term"transmutation" was coined by Lamarck's disciple, embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, to describe this view. Charles Lyell, who published the second volume of his Principles of Geology in 1833 challenged this notion and borrowed the term "evolution" from Geoffroy's student to describe the notion that species are evolving into other species in an orderly and predictable manner.
Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process by which living things develop characteristics to improve their chances of survival or producing offspring. In time, genetic variation can cause a population to develop new physical characteristics or biological functions. Natural selection is the process that drives the majority of 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're not inherited by future generations.
Creationists have a tendency to use the argument that evolution is controversial, despite the fact that it has been proven valid by a multitude of scientific tests and it has been tested over time. They argue that the theory shouldn't be taught at school. In South Korea, creationists have won a few victories in their fight to remove evolution from high-school textbooks, including the removal of references to the evolutionary history of humans and the Archaeopteryx feathered dinosaur thought to be the ancestral bird's parent.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution is the explanation for the origins of Earth and all living species. It is also a fundamental part of biology, and aids scientists comprehend how living organisms operate and grow. Evolution also reveals the relationships between species. Scientists study evolution to gain a better understanding of the natural world, and also to make important discoveries 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 it has been rigorously tested and verified over the course of many years. Many people, including religious leaders, believe in the theory of evolution as a scientific fact. It is important to understand that evolutionary biology does not contradict religious beliefs, as the theory is based on things, events and processes in the physical world.
In fact, many religious people have come up with ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolutionary theory. For example some Christians believe that God created the universe through evolution and that humans share an ancestry with other animals.
It is essential that science educators stand up for teaching evolution. In 에볼루션바카라 , the anti-evolution movement is growing. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit teaching evolution. In South Korea, a group called 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.
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, including fossils, genetics, and even the behavior of living creatures. Other scientists independently verify the evidence.
The majority of scientists supports the theory of evolution. This support is based on many different reasons. Certain scientists study evolution in order to discover practical solutions, such as developing medications or developing new medicines, while others are driven by a desire to improve animal and plant species, usually to benefit humans. Some scientists are simply curious, while others have a strong religious belief in God.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are people who believe that God created the universe and everything within it. They also believe that the Bible is God's word and should be believed to be true. Many creationists are Christians however, not all. Creationists typically fall into two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The most well-known type of creationist is 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 six days of creation is literal, and that the universe and the life on Earth started only recently.
OECs may be less well-known however their beliefs are just as passionate as the 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 the notion that scientific principles such as natural selection and abiogenesis could explain the origin of life on Earth. They assert that evolution is inconceivable because it requires miracles. The founders of modern scientific thought shunned miracles because they feared they could lose their credibility.
Some creationists believe in naturalistic evolution and also special creation, and call their view “theistic evolution." It is sometimes referred to as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the created species." In this belief system, God creates the original species and then allows them to evolve over time. These evolution changes will eventually result in new species similar to the original.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things in one event, called the Great Flood. These creationists hold that all species were created at the same moment and then slowly evolved. They reject the idea of abiogenesis, and argue that self-replicating life cannot arise from non-living matter.
In general, the creationists oppose the teaching of evolution in schools. This is a position that is backed by a variety of professional organizations which include the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education and the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. Certain scientists and educational institutions are, however, more flexible and allow creationism and evolution to be incorporated into their curricula.
What is Creationism in Korea?
When people think about the concept of creationism, a lot think of the United States. However, South Korea is also home to an anti-evolutionist movement. The publishers of high school textbooks announced last week that they would remove references to evolution from their editions. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent organization that is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR), has led this drive. The STR has won its first victory by removing from textbooks evidence of the evolution and ancestor of the avian, called the Archeopteryx. The next goal is to eliminate excerpts from Darwin’s infamous finch-research as well as on human evolution.
STR claims that it has the support of 4,000 families and individuals. Its goal is to weed out what it regards as the "atheist materialism" that creates a bleak worldview for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American Creationists in the nation. A survey of trainees in biology found that half did not believe in evolution. The causes aren't clear but could be due to religion and the absence of full-time creation scientists in the country.
The KACR has achieved a lot through its seminars and lectures in the past. It publishes a bimonthly magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of them was a textbook on natural science that had a creationist perspective. This led to an interest in the college community. In 1991 an academic and minister started teaching Creation Science in one university and it is taught until today.
On August 7 and 8 in 1993, the same day that the World Expo opened in Daejeon, KACR held a second International Symposium on Creation Research. Six lecturers from abroad including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of over a thousand. KACR and its members have been giving talks on creation science at major seminaries too. KACR is planning to create a Creation Science Education Center.