Evolution Korea
In the past the scientific community in Korea has avoided engaging with the creationists in fear that it could give the movement more credibility. But silence is no anymore an option.
The STR has been fighting to eliminate the content on evolution from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestral bird. This is just one aspect of the way in which the development paradigm has changed.
What is Evolution?
The theory of evolution is a scientific one that explains the changes in genetic characteristics of living organisms over time. The theory is based on fact that living organisms adapt to their environment and this can lead to changes in genes, or even entire genomes. Over the course of many generations these changes could result in the emergence of new species. The predominant theory of evolution is known as natural selection, which explains the process that allows individuals with advantageous characteristics survive and reproduce more often than those with less favorable characteristics. This differential reproduction can be a catalyst to the creation and evolution of new species.
The word "evolution" originates from the Latin word"evolution" which means unrolling or revealing. However, the concept itself has a myriad of meanings as it has taken shape in the sciences and other fields. Early evolutionists like Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predestined to evolve into a different 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, attacked this idea 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 through which living things develop characteristics to improve their chances of living or producing offspring. As time passes, genetic variation can cause a population develop new physical traits or biological functions. The change in gene frequencies is known as natural selection and is the primary driver behind evolutionary changes. Non-genetic changes, such as an increase in muscle mass from exercise or diet, can't be considered evolution because they aren't passed on to the next generation.
Despite the fact that evolution has stood the tests of time and thousands of scientific tests Creationists have taken advantage of the notion that the theory is controversial and claim that it shouldn't be taught in school. In South Korea, creationists won some victories against evolution in textbooks for high school. This includes the removal of all references about the evolutionary history of humans and Archaeopteryx which is a feathered dinosaur believed to be the bird's ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important to Humanity?
Evolution explains how the Earth and all living species evolved. It also serves as a basis of biology and helps scientists to learn how living organisms function and develop. 에볼루션코리아 shows how different species are linked. Scientists study evolution to better understand the natural world, and also to make important discoveries, such as developing new drugs.
The evidence for biological evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that can explain so much about the universe and life on earth, and it has been rigorously tested and confirmed over many years. Many people, and even religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory. It is important to understand that evolutionary biology does not contradict religions, since the theory is based on objects, events and processes within the physical world.
In reality many religious people have come up with ways to reconcile their beliefs with the theory of evolution. For example some Christians believe that God created the universe through evolution and that humans have an ancestral lineage with other animals.
It is essential for scientists to support the teaching of evolution. In some countries, anti-evolution sentiment has been growing. In the United States, efforts to limit the teaching of evolution have made some progress in a few 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 textbook content on the evolution of horses and their ancestral avian species Archaeopteryx.
It is important to remember that the evidence in favor of evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a wide range of sources, including fossils, genetic studies, and the behavior of living organisms. Other scientists independently confirm the evidence.
The vast majority of scientists supports the theory of evolution. This support is based on many different reasons. Certain scientists study evolution to discover practical solutions such as the development of new medicines, while others do so to improve animal and plants species, typically to benefit of humans. Some are simply curious, and others have a deep religious belief in God and want to know how the universe works.
What is Creationism?
Creationists believe that God created everything in the universe. They also believe that the Bible is the word of God and should be taken seriously. Although Creationists may not all be Christian, many are. Creationists are typically divided into two categories: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
The YECs are the best known form of creationist, and they believe that God created the universe exactly as described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of the creation's six days is literal and that the universe and the life on Earth began only recently.
OECs aren't as well-known However, their beliefs are as passionate like those of YECs. OECs believe that the universe as well as Earth are billions of years old, and that evolution is a lie.
Both forms 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 would require a miracle, and that the founders of modern science shied away from miracles due to fear of losing credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolution as well as special creation. They refer to their belief as "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 evolve over time. These evolution changes will eventually result in new species similar to the original.
Some creationists believe that God created all living things and the universe in one event known as the Great Flood. These creationists hold that all species were created at the same time and then slowly evolved. They also reject the idea of abiogenesis and argue that the self-replicating creation of organisms from nonliving matter is impossible.
In general, the creationists are against teaching evolution in schools. Numerous professional organizations, like the National Science Teachers Association and the Association for Science Teacher Education endorse this view and so do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. Some scientists and educational institutions are, however, more flexible and allow creationism and evolution to be included in their curricula.
What is Creationism?
When people think of the concept of creationism typically think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolutionist group. The publishers of high school textbooks 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, has led the drive. STR has achieved its first victory by eliminating examples of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor called the Archeopteryx, from textbooks. It is now focusing on removing snippets of Darwin's infamous finch research and on human evolution as well.
STR claims to have the backing of 4,000 families as well as individual members. Its aim is to root out what it believes is the "atheist materialism" that creates a bleak worldview for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American Creationists in the United States. A survey of biology students teachers revealed that a majority do not believe in evolution. The root causes are unclear, but may include religious beliefs and the lack of full-time creation scientists in the country.
The KACR has achieved many things in the past through lectures and seminar events. It publishes a bimonthly magazine called Creation and an ebook. Among these is a textbook on the natural sciences with a creationist viewpoint, which attracted the attention of college communities. In 1991, a professor and minister began teaching Creation Science in one university and it continues to be taught to this day.
On August 7 and 8, 1993, coinciding with the World Expo opened in Daejeon, KACR held a second International Symposium on Creation Research. 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 creation science in prestigious seminaries. KACR plans to create a Creation Science Education Center in the future.