Evolution Korea
Until recently the scientific community in Korea has avoided engaging with creationists, afraid that it could increase the credibility of the movement. The silence is no longer an alternative.
The STR has been fighting to remove evolution-related content from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestor bird. This is only one aspect of how the development paradigm has changed.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a concept in science that explains changes in genetic traits 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 complete genomes. Over the course of many generations the changes could result in the emergence of new species. The predominant theory of evolution is known as natural selection, which explains the process by which people with advantages survive and reproduce more frequently than those with less favorable characteristics. This differential reproduction can be a catalyst to the emergence and evolution of new species.
The word "evolution" comes from the Latin word"evolution" which means unrolling or revealing. However, the concept itself has a myriad of meanings over the years as it has taken form in the fields of 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. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire was Lamarck's embryologist pupil who invented the term "transmutation" to describe this theory. 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 new species in an orderly and predictable manner.
Recently, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process when living creatures develop characteristics that enhance their chances of survival, or their ability to reproduce offspring. As time passes, genetic variation can cause a population to develop new physical traits or biological functions. Natural selection is the process that drives the majority of evolutionary changes. However, non-genetic changes such as increases in muscle mass from diet or exercise can't be considered examples of evolution since they are not inherited by future generations.
Creationists have a tendency to use the argument that evolution is controversial, in spite of the fact that it has been proven accurate by thousands of scientific tests and that it has stood the test of time. They argue that the theory should not be taught at school. In South Korea, creationists have won a few victories in their fight to remove evolution from high-school textbooks which includes the removal of any mention of the evolutionary history of humans as well as the Archaeopteryx feathered dinosaur that is thought to be the ancestor of birds.
Why is Evolution important to humanity?
Evolution explains the origins of Earth and all living species. It is one of the fundamentals of biology and helps scientists discover how living things operate and develop. Evolution also helps us understand the connections between species. Scientists study evolution to gain a better understanding of the natural world, and to make useful discoveries including the development of new medicines.
The evidence for biological evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains so much about the universe as well as life on Earth and has been thoroughly tested and confirmed over the course of many years. Many people, and even religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology does not interfere with religious beliefs, since the theory is based on objects, events and processes in the physical world.
In fact many religious individuals have found ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolutionary theory. Some Christians, for example, believe that God created everything through evolution and that humans have an ancestry that is shared with other animals.
It is important that science educators advocate for the teaching of evolution. In some countries, the opposition to evolution has been rising. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit the teaching evolution. In South Korea, a group known as 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 Avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
While these are disturbing developments, it is also important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a diverse range of sources, including fossils, genetic studies, and the behavior of living organisms. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The vast majority of scientists supports the theory of Evolution KR. The reason for this is a variety of reasons. Scientists study evolution to discover practical solutions that can lead to the development of new medications and other treatments, while others are driven by a desire to improve animal and plant species, generally for the benefit of humans. Some are simply curious, while others have a profound faith in God and are seeking to know how the universe works.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are those who believe that God created the universe and everything within it. They also believe that the Bible is the word of God and should be taken seriously. Many creationists are Christians however, not all. Creationists are typically divided into two groups: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
The most popular type of creationist is known as the YEC. They believe that God created the universe exactly in the way described in the Bible. YECs believe that the biblical account of the creation's six days is true and that the universe and the life on Earth was created only recently.
OECs may be less popular However, their beliefs are as fierce as those of YECs. OECs believe the universe and Earth are billions of years old, and believe that evolution is a lie.
Both forms of creationism deny the idea that scientific principles like biogenesis and natural selection can explain how life started on Earth. They argue that evolution is not possible because it requires an extraordinary event, and that the pioneers of modern science shied away from miracles due to fear that they would lose credibility.
Some creationists believe in naturalistic evolution as well as special creation, and refer to their view "theistic evolution." This is sometimes known as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the created species." In this theory, God creates the original species and allows them to change over time. Eventually, these evolutionary changes will produce new species that are identical to the original species.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things during a single event, called the Great Flood. They believe that all species were created at the same time and that they gradually evolved. They reject the concept of abiogenesis, and argue that self-replicating living cannot come from nonliving matter.
In general, creationists are opposed to the teaching of evolution in schools. This is supported by a variety of 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, certain academic institutions and scientists are more flexible and allow the inclusion of creationism and evolution 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 textbooks for high school students have recently announced that they will remove references to evolution from their textbooks. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent body that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) is the one who has led this campaign. The STR has achieved its first victory by removing from textbooks evidence of the evolution and ancestor of the avian, called the Archeopteryx. It is now focusing on removing snippets of Darwin's infamous finch research and on human evolution as well.
STR claims that it has the support of around 4000 families and individuals. The goal, according to STR is to cleanse the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" which paints an image of students as being negative. It also seeks to counter the influence of American Creationists in the United States. A survey of undergraduates studying biology revealed that a majority of them didn't believe in evolution. The reasons for this are not clear but could be due to religious beliefs and the lack of full-time creation scientists in the country.
The KACR achieved many things through its lectures and seminars in the past. It also publishes a bimonthly magazine called Creation and the book. One of them is a textbook on the natural sciences, with an evolutionary perspective that sparked interest in college communities. In 1991, a professor, along with a minister, began teaching Creation Science at one university. It is still taught in the present.
On August 6-7 1993, KACR hosted a second International Symposium on Creation Research. The event was held in conjunction with the opening of the World Expo in Daejeon. Six foreign lecturers including ICR's John Morris and Steven Austin, spoke to thousands of people. 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.