Evolution Korea
For a long time the Korean scientific community resisted working with creationists due to the fear of giving the movement more credibility. But silence is no anymore an option.
The STR has been fighting to remove evolution-related content from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestral bird. This is only one example of how the development paradigm has evolved.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a theory of science that explains the evolution of the genetic traits of living organisms over time. The theory is based on the fact that living organisms adjust to their environment, which could result in changes to genes or entire genomes. These changes can, over generations result in the development of new species. Natural selection is the dominant theory of evolution. It describes how individuals who have advantages can reproduce faster and longer than those with less advantageous traits. Over time, this differential reproduction may lead to the development of completely new species.
The word "evolution" is derived from the Latin word meaning unrolling or revealing, but the concept has had a variety of meanings since it took shape in the sciences and other fields. Early evolutionists like Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predetermined to evolve into a different species. The term transmutation was coined by Lamarck's student embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire to describe this idea. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, challenged the idea of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy’s student.
In recent years evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process that occurs when living creatures develop characteristics that enhance their chances of survival, or their ability to produce offspring. Over time, genetic variability can lead a population to acquire new physical characteristics or biological functions. This shift in gene frequency is called natural selection, and is the primary driver behind evolutionary change. However, non-genetic changes such as increases in muscle mass due to diet or exercise can't be considered to be examples of evolution because they are not inherited by future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has stood the test of time and a multitude of scientific experiments, creationists have seized on the idea that evolution is controversial to argue that it shouldn't be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories against evolution in textbooks for high school. This includes the removal of references about the evolutionary origins for humans and Archaeopteryx - a feathered dino believed to be the ancestral bird's first ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution is the explanation for the origins of Earth and all living species. It is also one of the pillars of biology and helps scientists to understand how living things function and grow. Evolution also shows how different species are interconnected. Scientists study evolution to gain a better understanding of the natural world and also to make important discoveries, such as developing new medicines.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains so many aspects of the universe and life on this planet and has been rigorously tested and verified over the course of many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in support of the scientific theory. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology does not conflict with religious beliefs, as the theory only deals with processes, objects, and events in the physical world.
Many religious people have found a way to reconcile evolution with their beliefs. Certain Christians for instance, believe that God created everything through evolution, and that humans share a common ancestry to other animals.
It is crucial that science educators advocate for the teaching evolution. In some countries, the anti-evolution movement 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 known as the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC), is campaigning for textbooks to include content on the evolution of horses and their avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
While these are disturbing changes, it's important to keep in mind that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution comes from a variety of sources, including fossils, genetics and the behavior of living creatures. Other scientists independently confirm the evidence.
The majority of scientists support the theory of evolution. The reasons for this support are diverse. Scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries that can lead to the development of new medications, while others are motivated by an interest in improving the quality of life for animals and plant species, generally for the benefit of humans. Some are simply curious, and others have a profound faith in God and seek to understand how the universe works.
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 seriously. Many creationists are Christians, but not all. Creationists typically fall into two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
YECs are the most well known type of creationist, and they believe that God created the world exactly as described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of six days of creation is literal and that the universe and the life on Earth were created just recently.
OECs are less well known However, they're just as committed to their beliefs as YECs. OECs believe that the universe and Earth are billions-of-years old and that evolution is a myth.
Both kinds of creationism deny that scientific principles such as natural selection and biogenesis can explain how life came to be on Earth. They claim that evolution is not possible because it requires miracles. The pioneers of modern scientific thought resisted miracles in fear that they would lose their credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolutionary and also special creation, and refer to their belief as "theistic evolution.†It is sometimes known as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the created species." This theory states that God creates original species and allows them to evolve over time. Eventually the evolutionary changes result in new species similar to the original ones.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things in one event, called the Great Flood. Creationists believe that all the original species were created at the same moment and then gradually evolved. They also reject the concept of abiogenesis and claim that the creation of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is impossible.
In general, creationists oppose the teaching of evolution in schools. This is supported by numerous professional organizations, including the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education and the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. However, some scientists and educational institutions 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. However, South Korea is also the home of an anti-evolutionist movement. The publishers of textbooks for high school students have recently announced that they will eliminate references to evolution from their books. A group dubbed the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) is an unofficial body that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research which is the driving force behind the campaign. STR has achieved its first victory in taking away examples of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor, the Archeopteryx, from textbooks. The next goal is to take out portions of Darwin's notorious finch-research as 에볼루션 게이밍 well as on human evolution.
STR claims to have the support of 4,000 families and members. Its mission is to cut out what it believes is the "atheist materialism" that reflects a hopeless worldview for students. It also seeks to counter the influence of American creationists in the country. A survey of biology students teachers revealed that around half do not believe in evolution. The reasons aren't clear, but could include religious beliefs or the lack of creation scientists in the country.
The KACR has achieved a lot through its lectures and seminars in the past. It publishes a bimonthly journal called Creation and an ebook. 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, a professor and minister began teaching Creation Science in one university and it continues to be taught until today.
On August 6 and 7 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 abroad 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 in major seminaries, too. KACR plans to create a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.