Evolution Korea
For a long time, the Korean scientific community resisted engaging with the creationists out of fear of giving the movement more credence. However, silence is no anymore an option.
The STR has been battling to get rid of textbooks that discuss evolution, such as the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an ancestral bird's ancestor. However, this is just one aspect of the evolution of the development paradigm.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a concept in science that explains changes in genetic characteristics over time. The theory is based on the fact that living creatures adapt to their environment, which can lead to variations in genes or entire genomes. These changes can over many generations lead to the emergence of new species. The prevailing theory of evolution is known as natural selection, which describes the process through which individuals with advantageous characteristics survive and reproduce more frequently than those with less favorable characteristics. This differing reproduction may be a catalyst to the emergence and evolution of new species.
The word "evolution" originates from the Latin word for unrolling or revealing, but the concept itself has had many different meanings since it took shape in the sciences and in other fields. Early evolutionists, such as Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that the existing species transformed into other species in a predetermined fashion. The term"transmutation" was coined by the Lamarck's disciple embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, to describe this idea. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, criticized the idea of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy's student.
Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process in which living creatures develop traits that increase their chances of survival or producing offspring. In time, this genetic variability can lead to the emergence of completely new physical or biological traits in the population. Such a variation in gene frequencies is known as natural selection and it drives most evolutionary change. However non-genetic changes like the increase in muscle mass due to diet or exercise cannot be considered examples of evolution since they are not inherited by future generations.
Creationists make the argument that evolution is controversial despite the fact that it has been proven to be valid by a multitude of scientific tests and it has stood the test of time. 에볼루션 블랙잭 argue that the concept should not be taught at school. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories against evolution in textbooks for high schools. This includes the removal of references about the evolutionary origins for humans as well as Archaeopteryx - a feathered dino that is believed to be the ancestral bird's first ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains the origins and evolution of Earth and all living species. It also serves as a basis of biology, and aids scientists to learn how living organisms function and develop. Evolution also demonstrates how different species are connected. 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. There is no other scientific theory that can explain so much about the universe and life on this planet, and it has been rigorously tested and verified over the course of many years. Many people, including religious leaders, believe in the scientific theory of evolution. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology doesn't contradict religious beliefs, as the theory only deals with processes, objects, and events within the physical world.
In fact many religious people have discovered ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolutionary theory. Some Christians for instance, believe that God created everything through evolution and that humans share an ancestry that is shared with other animals.
It is important for science educators to support the teaching of evolution. Unfortunately, in a few countries around the globe there is a growing anti-evolutionist sentiment. In the United States, efforts to limit the teaching of evolution have made progress in some states. In South Korea, a group known as the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC), is campaigning 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 broad 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 support the theory of evolution. The reason for this is many different reasons. Some scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries, such as developing medications and other treatments, while others are driven by the desire to improve the lives of animals and plant species, generally to benefit humans. Some scientists are just curious, while others have an intense belief in God.
What is Creationism?
Creationists believe that God created everything in the universe. They also believe the Bible is God's word and should be interpreted in a literal manner. Many creationists are Christians However, not all. Creationists are usually divided into two groups: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
The most common type of creationist is the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in exactly the manner described in the Bible. YECs hold that the biblical account of six days of creation is literal and that the universe and life on Earth were created only recently.
OECs might not be as well-known, but their beliefs are just as intense as those of YECs. OECs believe that the universe and life on Earth are billions of years old and they believe that evolution is a myth.
Both kinds of creationism deny the scientific theories that biogenesis and natural selection can explain how life came to be on Earth. They argue that evolution is not possible because it requires miracles. The founders of modern science shunned miracles out of fear they would lose their credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolution and special creation. They refer to their belief as "theistic evolution." This is sometimes referred to as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from created kinds." In this belief system, God creates the original species, and then allows them to change over time. These evolution changes will eventually result in new species that are similar to the original.
Some creationists believe that God created all living things and the entire universe in one event called the Great Flood. Creationists believe that all the species of the beginning were created at the same moment and that they gradually evolved. They also reject the idea of abiogenesis and argue that the creation of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is unattainable.
In general, creationists oppose the teaching of evolution in schools. This is a position that is backed by a variety of professional organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education as well as the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. Certain scientists and educational institutions are, however, more flexible and permit both evolution and creationism to be incorporated into their curricula.
What exactly 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-evolution movement. 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 which is the driving force behind the campaign. The STR has achieved its first victory by removing from textbooks examples of the evolution and ancestor of the avian, the Archeopteryx. Its sights are now set on removing snippets of Darwin's notorious finch research and on human evolution too.
STR claims to have the support of 4,000 families and members. Its goal is to weed out what it regards as the "atheist materialism" that reflects a hopeless worldview for students. It also aims to counteract the influence of American creationists who live in the US. A survey of undergraduates studying biology found that half did not believe evolution. The root causes are unclear but could be due to religion and the absence of full-time creation scientists across the country.
The KACR accomplished a number of things through its lectures and seminars in the past. It has a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. The most notable of these is a text on the natural sciences that has an orthodox creationist perspective, which attracted the attention of college communities. In 1991 an academic and minister began teaching Creation Science in one university and it continues to be taught to this day.
On August 6 and 7, 1993, coinciding with the World Expo opened in Daejeon, KACR held a second International Symposium on Creation Research. Six 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 talks on creation science at major seminaries too. KACR intends to establish a Creation Science Education Center.