Evolution Korea
Until recently, Korea's scientific community has refrained from engaging with the creationists, fearing that doing so could give the movement more credibility. But silence is no longer an option.
The STR has been campaigning to eliminate content from textbooks that discuss evolution, such as the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an early bird's ancestor. This is only one example of how the concept of development has changed.
What is Evolution?
The theory of evolution is a scientific one that explains the change in genetic characteristics of living organisms over time. The theory is based on the fact that living organisms adapt to their surroundings, which can cause variations in genes or even whole genomes. These changes could over generations lead to the creation of new species. The predominant theory of evolution is natural selection, which explains the process that allows individuals with advantageous characteristics survive and reproduce more often than those with disadvantageous characteristics. Over time, this differential reproduction can result in the creation of completely new species.
The term "evolution", which comes from the Latin for unrolling or revealing has been used in a variety of different ways as the concept has evolved in both science and in other fields. Some early evolutionists, including Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that the existing species evolved into new species in a planned manner. The term"transmutation" was coined by Lamarck's student embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire 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 view that existing species change into different species in a gradual and predictable manner.
Recently, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process when living creatures develop characteristics that improve their chances of survival or ability to produce offspring. In time, genetic variation can cause a population acquire new physical characteristics or biological functions. This change in gene frequencies is called natural selection, and it is the main driver of evolutionary changes. However other changes that are not genetic, such as the increase in muscle mass from diet or exercise can't be considered to be examples of evolution since they are not passed on to future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has withstood the tests of time and thousands of scientific studies Creationists have taken advantage of the idea that the theory is controversial and claim that it shouldn't be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists have won a few victories in their fight to remove evolution from high school textbooks which includes the removal of references to the evolutionary roots of humans, as well as the Archaeopteryx, a feathered dinosaur thought to be an ancestor of birds.
Why is Evolution Important to Humanity?
Evolution explains the origins and evolution of Earth and all living species. It is one of the fundamentals of biology and helps scientists understand how living things work and grow. Evolution also demonstrates how different species are interconnected. Scientists study evolution to better understand the natural world and to make useful discoveries including the development of new treatments.
The evidence for evolution of biological species is overwhelming. No other scientific theory explains as much about the universe and life on this planet. It has been rigorously examined and confirmed for many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in favor of the theory of evolution as a scientific fact. It is important to note that evolutionary biology doesn't interfere with religious beliefs, as the theory only deals with things, events and processes in the physical world.
In reality many religious people have found ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolution. Some Christians for instance believe that God created everything through evolution, and that humans share a common ancestry to other animals.
It is essential for scientists to stand up for the teaching of evolution. In certain countries, the opposition to evolution 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 called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) which is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research is urging the removal of textbook content on the evolution of horses and the bird ancestral Archaeopteryx.
It is vital to remember that the evidence in support of evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a wide variety of sources, including fossils, genetic studies and the behavior of living organisms. Other scientists independently confirm the evidence.
The vast majority of scientists agree with the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this belief vary. Certain scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries such as developing new medicines and other treatments, while others use it to improve animal and plants species, usually for the benefit of humans. Some are simply curious, and others have a profound faith in God and seek to understand how the universe works.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are people 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 as such. Although some creationists are not Christian, they are a majority. Going On this page are generally divided into two groups: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
YECs are the most well known type of creationist and they believe that God created the universe exactly as described in the Bible. YECs believe that the biblical account of the creation's six days is literal and that the universe and the life on Earth started only recently.
OECs are less well known however they are just as committed to their beliefs as YECs. OECs believe the universe and Earth are billions-of-years old and that evolution is a lie.
Both types of creationism reject the idea that scientific principles like biogenesis and natural selection could explain how life started on Earth. They assert that evolution is inconceivable because it would require miracles. The founders of modern scientific thought resisted miracles in fear that they might lose their credibility.
Some creationists accept both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and call their position "theistic evolution." This is sometimes called "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the created species." In this belief system, God creates the original species, and then allows them to change over time. Eventually the evolutionary changes create new species that are identical to the original species.
Others believe that God created the universe and all living things in one event, called the Great Flood. Creationists believe that all species were created at the same time and then gradually evolved. They also reject the concept of abiogenesis, and argue that the self-replicating creation of organisms from nonliving matter is not possible.
In general, creationists oppose the teaching of evolution in schools. This is a position that is backed by a myriad of professional associations, including the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education and the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. Certain scientists and educational institutions, however, are more flexible and permit both 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. However, South Korea is also home to an anti-evolutionist movement. Publishers of high-school textbooks recently announced that they will remove the mention of evolution in their textbooks. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent organization that is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) is the one who has led this drive. STR has secured its first victory in taking away examples of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor, the Archeopteryx from textbooks. Its sights are now set on removing excerpts from 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 paints an unhopeful worldview for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American creationists in the United States. A survey of students in biology revealed that half of them didn't believe in evolution. The reasons aren't certain, but could be related to religion or the absence of creation scientists in the United States.
The KACR has achieved many things in the past through lectures and seminar events. It publishes a bimonthly journal called Creation and the book. The most notable of these is a text on the natural sciences, with an orthodox creationist perspective, which sparked 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 6th and 7th of 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 a few thousand. KACR and its members have been delivering lectures on creation science at major seminaries as well. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center in the future.