Evolution Korea
In the past, the Korean scientific community avoided engaging with creationists for fear of giving the movement more credence. 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. However, this is just one aspect of the development paradigm's evolution.
What is Evolution?
The theory of evolution is a branch of science that explains the evolution of genetic traits over time. The theory is based upon the fact that living organisms adapt to their environment, which can lead to variations in genes or whole genomes. Over time, these changes can lead to the emergence new species. Natural selection is the predominant theory of evolution. It explains how individuals who have advantages are more likely to reproduce and survive than those with less favorable traits. In time, this disparity in reproduction may lead to the development of completely new species.
The word "evolution", which comes from the Latin for unrolling or revealing has been used in many different ways as the concept has changed, both in science as well as elsewhere. Some early evolutionists, like Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather), believed that existing species changed into other species in a certain way. The term transmutation was coined by Lamarck's student embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, to describe this notion. 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 existing species change into other species in a gradual and predictable manner.
Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process through which living organisms develop traits to increase their chances of surviving or producing offspring. In time this genetic variation can cause the emergence of entirely new biological functions or physical traits in the same population. Natural selection is the process that drives most evolutionary changes. Other changes that aren't genetic, such as an increase in muscle mass through exercise or diet, can't be considered evolution because they aren't passed down to future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has stood the test of time and thousands of scientific studies however, creationists have taken advantage of the notion that the theory is controversial and argue that it should not be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists have won a few victories in their fight to remove evolution from textbooks for high school and have also gotten rid of any mention of the evolutionary history of humans, as well as the Archaeopteryx feathered dinosaur believed to be the ancestor of birds.
Why is Evolution Important for Humanity?
Evolution explains how the Earth and all living species evolved. It also serves as a basis of biology and helps scientists understand how living organisms work and grow. Evolution also shows how different species are interconnected. Scientists study evolution to better comprehend nature and make valuable discoveries, such as the development of new treatments.
The evidence for biological evolution is overwhelming. No other scientific theory explains as much about the universe and the life on our planet. It has been rigorously studied and verified for many years. Many people, even some religious leaders, are in support of the scientific theory. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology doesn't contradict religions, since the theory only deals with things, events and processes within the physical world.
In fact many religious people have come up with ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolutionary theory. 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 support the teaching of evolution. Unfortunately, in a few nations around the world the anti-evolution movement is growing. In the United States, efforts to limit the teaching of evolution have made headway in a few states. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) which is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research, is campaigning for the removal of textbook content on the evolution of horses as well as the avian ancestral 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, including fossils, genetics, and even the behavior of living creatures. Other scientists independently confirm the evidence.
The majority of scientists support the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this belief are diverse. Scientists study evolution in order to make practical discoveries such as the development of new medicines, while others do so to improve animal and plants species, usually for the benefit humans. Some scientists are just curious, while other s hold a an intense faith in God.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are people who believe that God created the universe and everything in it. They also believe the Bible is God's word and should be taken literally. Many creationists are Christians, but not all. Creationists generally fall into two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The YECs are perhaps 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 six days of creation was literal and that the universe and life on Earth were created only recently.
OECs might not be as popular, but their beliefs are as passionate like the YECs. OECs believe that the universe as well as Earth are billions of years old, and believe that evolution is a lie.
Both forms 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 isn't possible because it would require the creation of a miracle, and the scientists who founded modern science shied away from miracles due to fear of losing credibility.
Some creationists believe in naturalistic evolution and special creation, and call their view “theistic evolution." This is also referred to as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of created kinds." In this view, God creates the original species and allows them to evolve over time. These evolutionary changes eventually will result in new species that are similar to the original.
Others believe that God created the universe and all living things in a single event, referred to as the Great Flood. These creationists hold that all species were created at the same time and then gradually evolved. They also deny the notion of abiogenesis and argue that the creation of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is unattainable.
In general, creationists are against teaching of evolution in schools. Numerous professional organizations, like the National Science Teachers Association and the Association for Science Teacher Education support this position as do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. Some academic institutions and scientists are, however, more flexible and allow both creationism and evolution to be incorporated into their curriculum.
What is Creationism?
When people think of the concept of creationism, a lot think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolutionist group. The publishers of high-school textbooks recently announced that they would remove the mention of evolution in their editions. A group dubbed the Society for Textbook Revise (STR), an independent body that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research which is the driving force behind the campaign. The STR has won its first victory by removing from textbooks the 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 around 4000 families and individuals. Its goal is to weed out what it regards as the "atheist materialism" that reflects a hopeless worldview for students. It also seeks to counter the influence of American creationists in the country. A survey of undergraduates studying biology revealed that a majority of them didn't believe in evolution. The causes are not clear, but could include religious beliefs or the lack of creation scientists in the United States.
The KACR has accomplished a lot in the past through seminars and lectures. It publishes a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. The most notable of these is a text on the natural sciences that has an evolutionary perspective that sparked interest in college communities. In 1991 the year 1991, a minister and professor began teaching Creation Science in one university and it is taught until today.
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 abroad including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of over a thousand. KACR and its members have been giving lectures on creation science at major seminaries too. KACR intends to establish a Creation Science Education Center.