Evolution Korea
In the past the scientific community in Korea has been hesitant to engage with the creationists in fear that doing so could increase the credibility of the movement. 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 ancestor of birds. This is just one aspect of the way in which the development paradigm has changed.
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 creatures adapt to their environment, which can result in variations in genes or whole genomes. These changes can, over generations lead to the creation of new species. Natural selection is the most popular theory of evolution. It describes how individuals who have advantages can reproduce faster and longer than those with less favorable traits. Read Significantly more differing reproduction may eventually lead to the development and emergence of new species.
The term "evolution" originates from Latin for revealing or unrolling has been used in many different ways as the concept has developed in both science as well as elsewhere. Some early evolutionists, including Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that existing species changed into other 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 challenged this notion and borrowed the term "evolution" from Geoffroy's student to describe the idea that existing species change into different species in a gradual and predictable manner.
Recently evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process that occurs when living things develop characteristics that enhance their chances of survival or ability to reproduce offspring. Over time this genetic variation can cause the emergence of completely new physical or biological functions in a population. Natural selection is the process that drives the most evolutionary changes. However, non-genetic changes such as the increase in muscle mass from exercise or diet cannot be considered to be examples of evolution because they are not passed on to future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has withstood the test of time and a multitude of scientific tests however, 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 have gained a few victories in their fight to remove evolution from high school textbooks and have also gotten rid of any mention of the evolutionary history of humans as well as the Archaeopteryx, a feathered dinosaur thought to be an ancestral bird's parent.
Why is Evolution Important to Humanity?
Evolution explains how Earth and all its living species came to be. It is also one of the foundations of biology and helps scientists to understand how living things function and grow. Evolution also helps us understand the connections between different species. Scientists study evolution in order to better comprehend nature and make valuable discoveries like new medicines.
The evidence for evolution of biological species 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 verified over many years. Many people, including religious leaders, believe in the theory of evolution as a scientific fact. It is essential to remember that evolutionary biology does not contradict religious beliefs because it only focuses on physical objects, events, and processes.
Many religious people have come up with a way of reconciling evolution with their beliefs. For instance some Christians believe that God created the world through evolution, and that humans share an ancestry with other animals.
It is crucial for scientists to support the teaching of evolution. In certain countries, anti-evolution sentiment is growing. 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, an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC) is pushing for textbooks that cover the evolutionary history of horses and their ancestral avian species Archaeopteryx.
While these are disturbing developments, it is also important to keep in mind that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution is based on a variety of sources, such as fossils, genetics, and even the behavior of living creatures. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The majority of scientists agree with the theory of evolution. The reasons for this support vary. Some scientists are studying evolution to make practical discoveries such as developing new medicines or enhancing existing ones. Others do this to improve the lives of animals and plant species, typically to benefit of humans. Some are simply curious, and still others have a deep religious belief in God and are seeking to understand how the universe functions.
What is Creationism?
Creationists believe that God created all things in the universe. They also believe the Bible is God's word and should be interpreted in a literal manner. While not all creationists are Christian however, they are a majority. Creationists typically fall into two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The most well-known type of creationist is the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in exactly the way described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of the six days of creation was true and that the universe and the life on Earth were only created recently.
OECs are less well known However, they are as passionate about their beliefs as YECs. OECs believe that the universe and life on Earth are billions of years old, and that evolution is a myth.
Both types of creationism reject the scientific theories that biogenesis and natural selection could explain how life started on Earth. They argue that evolution is not possible because it would require the creation of a miracle, and the scientists who founded modern science eschewed miracles for fear that they would lose credibility.
Some creationists believe in both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and call their position "theistic evolution." This is also known as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of the created species." In this view, God creates the original species and allows them to change over time. These evolutionary changes will eventually produce new species that are similar to the original.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things during a single event, known as 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 impossible.
In general, the creationists are against teaching evolution at schools. Numerous professional organizations such as 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 academic institutions and scientists are, however, more flexible and allow evolution and creationism to be included in their curricula.
What exactly is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of creationism most often, they think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolutionist group. Publishers of high school textbooks have recently announced that they will remove references to evolution from their textbooks. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent body which is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR), has led this campaign. STR has secured its first victory in eliminating instances of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor, called the Archeopteryx from textbooks. Its sights are now set on the removal of excerpts from Darwin's notorious finch research and on human evolution, too.
STR claims to have the support of around 4,000 families and individuals. The goal, according to STR is to clear the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" that paints a negative view for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American Creationists across the country. A survey of the newest biology teachers found that about half do not believe in the concept of evolution. The reasons aren't certain, but could be related to religious beliefs or the absence of creation scientists in the US.
The KACR accomplished a number of things through its lectures and seminars in the past. It publishes a bimonthly magazine called Creation and an ebook. Among these is a textbook 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 today.
On August 6 and 7 the 7th of August 1993, which coincided with the World Expo opened in Daejeon, KACR held a second International Symposium on Creation Research. Six lecturers from the world, including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of several thousand. click through the following post and its members have been giving lectures on creation science in major seminaries as well. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center.