Evolution Korea
In the past the Korean scientific community been hesitant to engage with creationists, afraid that it could give the movement more credibility. Silence is no longer a viable 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 only one example of how the development paradigm has evolved.
What is Evolution?
The theory of evolution is a branch of science that explains changes in genetic characteristics over time. The theory is based upon the fact that living organisms adapt to their environment, which may result in variations in genes or whole genomes. These changes can over many generations lead to the emergence of new species. Natural selection is the most popular theory of evolution. It explains how individuals who have advantages survive and reproduce more than those with disadvantageous ones. As time passes, this difference in reproduction could result in the creation of entirely new species.
The term "evolution" originates from the Latin for revealing or unrolling, has been used in a variety of different ways as the concept has evolved, both in science and in other fields. Early evolutionists like Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predetermined to change into another species. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire, Lamarck's embryologist disciple who coined the term "transmutation" to describe this view. 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 idea that existing species evolve into different species in an orderly and predictable manner.
Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process through which living creatures develop traits to improve their chances of survival or conceiving offspring. Over time, genetic variability can cause a population to develop new physical characteristics or biological functions. This change in gene frequencies is known as natural selection and it drives most evolutionary change. Changes that are not genetic, like an increase in muscle mass through exercise or diet, cannot be considered evolution because they aren't passed down to future generations.
Creationists are using the argument that evolution is controversial in spite of the fact that it has been proven accurate by thousands of scientific tests and it has been tested over time. They claim that the theory should not be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories against evolution in textbooks for high schools. This includes the removal of all references about the evolutionary origins for humans and Archaeopteryx which is a feathered dinosaur that is believed to be the bird's ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains how Earth and all its living species evolved. It is also a fundamental part of biology, and aids scientists to comprehend how living organisms operate and develop. Evolution also shows how different species are connected. Scientists study evolution to gain a better understanding of the natural world and to discover useful information including the development of new drugs.
The evidence for evolution of biological species is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains so many aspects of the universe and life on Earth and has been thoroughly tested and confirmed over many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory. It is crucial to keep in mind that evolutionary biology isn't in interfere with religious beliefs since it only deals with physical objects, events, and processes.
Many religious people have discovered a way to reconcile evolution with their convictions. 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 essential for scientists to stand up for the teaching of evolution. In some countries, anti-evolution sentiment has been growing. In the United States, efforts to restrict 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 of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC) is a campaign for textbook content on the evolutionary history of horses and their Avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
It is vital to remember that the evidence in support of evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution comes from a variety of sources, such as fossils, genetics, and the behavior of living creatures. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The majority of scientists support the theory of evolution. This belief is based on various reasons. Some scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries for example, such as the development of treatments and other treatments, while others are driven by an interest in improving the quality of life for animals and plant species, usually to benefit 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 believe that God created all things in the universe. They also believe that the Bible is God's word and should be believed to be true. Many creationists are Christians However, not all. Creationists typically fall into two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The YECs are the best 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 six days of creation was true and that the universe and life on Earth were created only recently.
OECs aren't as popular However, their beliefs are just as intense as those of YECs. OECs believe that the universe as well as Earth are billions of years old, and that evolution is a myth.
Both types of creationism reject the notion that scientific principles like natural selection and abiogenesis can explain the origins of life on Earth. They argue that evolution is inconceivable because it would require miracles. The pioneers of modern scientific thought resisted miracles in fear that they would lose their credibility.
Some creationists believe in both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and refer to their view "theistic evolution." This is also referred to as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of the created species." In this belief system, God creates the original species and allows them to evolve over time. These evolutionary changes eventually will result in new species similar to the original.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things in one event, referred to as the Great Flood. Creationists believe that all species were created at the same moment and that they gradually evolved. They reject the concept of abiogenesis and assert that self-replicating living cannot come from non-living matter.
In general, the creationists oppose teaching evolution at schools. Numerous professional organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association and the Association for Science Teacher Education are in support of this view and so do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. Some academic institutions and scientists, however, are more flexible and permit both creationism and evolution to be incorporated into their curriculum.
What exactly is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of the concept of creationism, a lot think of the United States. However, South Korea is also home to an anti-evolutionist movement. Publishers of high school textbooks have recently announced that they will eliminate references to evolution from their books. A group called 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 bird, the Archeopteryx. The next step is to eliminate portions of Darwin's notorious finch-research as well as on human evolution.
STR claims to have the support of around 4,000 families and individuals. Its mission, it states is to cleanse the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" that paints a negative view for students. It also aims at countering the influence of American Creationists in the United States. A survey of the newest biology teachers found that about half do not believe in evolution. The causes aren't clear but could be due to religion and the absence of full-time creation scientists across the country.
The KACR has accomplished a lot through its seminars and lectures. It publishes a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of these was a textbook on natural science with a cosmological perspective. This led to an interest among 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 and 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 lecturers from around the world including ICR's John Morris, 에볼루션 Duane Gish and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of over a thousand. KACR members and KACR have also presented lectures on creation science in major seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center.