Evolution Korea
For a long time the scientific community in Korea has refrained from engaging with the creationists in fear that doing so might give the movement more credibility. However, silence is no any longer an option.
The STR has been fighting to remove the content on evolution from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestral bird. But this is merely one aspect of the development paradigm's evolution.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a theory of science that explains changes in genetic traits over time. The theory is based on the fact that living organisms adjust to their environment, which can lead to variations in genes or whole genomes. These changes could over generations lead to the emergence of new species. The prevailing 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. Over time, this differential reproduction can lead to the emergence of completely new species.
The term "evolution" comes from the Latin word meaning unrolling or revealing, but the concept itself has had many different meanings over the years as it has taken form in the fields of science and elsewhere. Some early evolutionists, like Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that the existing species evolved into new species in a planned manner. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire was Lamarck's embryologist pupil who came up with 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 idea that species are evolving into different species in a gradual and predictable way.
Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process through which living organisms develop traits that increase their chances of living or producing offspring. As time passes, this genetic variability can lead to the emergence of entirely new physical or biological functions in the population. Such a shift in gene frequency is known as natural selection and it is the main driver of evolutionary changes. Non-genetic changes, such as an increase in muscle mass due to exercise or diet, can't be considered to be evolution since they aren't passed on to future generations.
Creationists have a tendency to use the argument that evolution is controversial even though it has been proven to be valid by a multitude of scientific tests and it has stood the test of time. They claim that the concept should not be taught at school. In South Korea, creationists won some victories against evolution in high school textbooks. This includes the removal of references to the evolutionary roots of humans and Archaeopteryx which is a feathered dinosaur 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 also serves as a basis of biology that helps scientists learn how living organisms function and grow. Evolution also reveals the relationships between different species. Scientists study evolution to understand the natural world, and to make useful discoveries, such as developing new drugs.
The evidence for evolution of biological species is overwhelming. No other scientific theory can explain as much about the universe as the life on earth. It has been thoroughly scrutinized and confirmed for a number of years. Many people, even some religious leaders, are in support of the scientific theory. It is important to understand that evolutionary biology does not contradict religious beliefs, as the theory is based on objects, events and processes in the physical world.
Many religious people have found a way to reconcile evolution with their convictions. Some Christians for instance, believe that God created everything through evolution and that humans have an ancestral connection to other animals.
It is important that science educators advocate for teaching evolution. In some countries around the globe there is a growing anti-evolutionist sentiment. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit teaching of evolution. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR), an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research, is campaigning for the removal of textbooks on the evolution of horses and the avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
While these are troubling developments, it is important to keep in mind that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a broad variety of sources, including fossils, genetic studies, and the behavior of living organisms. Other scientists independently verify the evidence.
The majority of scientists support the theory of evolution. The reasons for this support vary. Scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries, such as developing medicines and other treatments, while others are driven by the desire to improve the lives of animals and plant species, typically to benefit humans. Some scientists are just curious, while others have an intense belief in God.
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 the word of God and should be taken as such. While not all creationists are Christian but many are. Creationists generally fall in 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 universe in the exact way described in the Bible. YECs hold that the biblical account of the six days of creation is literal and that the universe and life on Earth were created just recently.
OECs are not as well-known however they are as committed to their beliefs as 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 idea that scientific principles like natural selection and biogenesis can explain how life started on Earth. They claim that evolution is impossible, because it requires miracles. The founders of modern scientific thought shunned miracles in fear that they could lose their credibility.
에볼루션 코리아 believe in both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and refer to their view "theistic evolution." This is sometimes also known as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the created species." In this view, God creates the original species and allows them to change over time. These evolutionary changes eventually will result in new species that are similar to the original.
Other creationists believe that God created the universe and all living things in one event, called the Great Flood. Creationists believe that the first species were all created at the same time and that they evolved slowly afterwards. They also reject the idea of abiogenesis and claim that the emergence of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is not possible.
In general, the creationists oppose teaching evolution in schools. This position is supported by numerous 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. However, some scientists and educational institutions are more flexible, and allow the inclusion of creationism and evolution in their curricula.
What is Creationism?
When people think of creationism, many of them think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolution group. The publishers of high-school textbooks announced last week that they would remove the mention of evolution in their textbooks. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent body which is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) has been the driving force behind this campaign. The STR has won its first victory by removing from textbooks evidence of the evolution and ancestor of an avian, called the Archeopteryx. Its sights are now set on removing snippets of Darwin's infamous finch research and on human evolution, too.
STR claims that it has the support of 4000 families and individuals. Its goal, it says is to cleanse the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" which portrays an unflattering image for students. It also aims at countering the influence of American Creationists across the country. A survey of students in biology found that half didn't believe in evolution. The root causes are unclear, but may include religious beliefs or the absence of full-time creation scientists in the country.
The KACR achieved many things through its seminars and lectures in the past. It publishes a bimonthly magazine called Creation and a book. One of these was a textbook on natural sciences with a cosmological perspective. This led to an interest in college communities. In 1991, a professor together 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. This was held in conjunction with the opening of the World Expo in Daejeon. Six lecturers from around the world including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of several thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given lectures on the subject of creation science at major seminaries. KACR intends to establish a Creation Science Education Center.