Evolution Korea
For a long time, the Korean scientific community resisted working with creationists due to the fear of giving the movement more credence. However, silence is no any longer an option.
The STR has been campaigning to get rid of textbooks that discuss evolution, such as the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an early bird's ancestor. This is only one aspect of how the development paradigm has changed.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a scientific theory that explains the change in the genetic characteristics of living organisms over time. The theory is based upon the fact that living creatures adapt to their environment, which could result in changes to genes or entire genomes. Over many generations, these changes can lead to the emergence new species. The most popular theory of evolution is called natural selection, which explains the process through which people with advantages survive and reproduce more often than those with disadvantages. This variation in reproduction could be a catalyst to the creation and evolution of new species.
The word "evolution" is derived from Latin for unrolling or revealing has been used in a variety of different ways as the concept has evolved, both in science and in other fields. Some early evolutionists, like Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that existing species evolved into new species in a certain way. The term transmutation was coined by Lamarck's student embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, to describe this idea. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, challenged the idea of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy’s student.
In recent years, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process that occurs when living things develop characteristics that improve their chances of survival, or their ability to produce offspring. As time passes this genetic variation can cause the emergence of entirely new physical or biological functions in a population. This change in gene frequencies is known as natural selection and it drives most evolutionary changes. Changes that are not genetic, like 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 studies however, creationists have taken advantage of the idea that the theory is controversial to argue that it should not be taught in school. In South Korea, creationists have won a few victories in their fight to remove evolution from textbooks for high school, including the removal of references to the evolutionary roots of humans and the Archaeopteryx feathered dinosaur that is thought to be an ancestor of birds.
Why is Evolution Important to Humanity?
Evolution is the explanation for the origins of Earth and all living species. It is also one of the foundations of biology, and aids scientists to understand how living things function and grow. Evolution also shows how different species are interconnected. Scientists study evolution to better understand the natural world, and to make useful discoveries like the development of new drugs.
The evidence for evolution of biological species is overwhelming. No other scientific theory explains as much about the universe and the life on earth. It has been rigorously examined and confirmed for many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology doesn't conflict with religions, since the theory only deals with objects, events and processes in the physical world.
In reality many religious individuals have found ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolution. Some Christians for instance believe that God created everything through evolution, and that humans share an ancestry that is shared with other animals.
It is important that scientists and educators speak out for the teaching evolution. In certain countries, the anti-evolution movement is growing. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit teaching evolution. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR), an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research, is campaigning for the removal of textbook content about the evolution of horses as well as the Avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
Although these are alarming changes, it's important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a broad variety of sources, including fossils, genetic studies and the behavior of living organisms. Other scientists independently verify the evidence.
The vast majority of scientists agree with the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this belief are diverse. Certain scientists are studying evolution to make practical discoveries such as the development of new medicines or enhancing existing ones. Others do this to improve the quality of animal and plant species, mostly to benefit of humans. Some are simply curious, whereas others have a deep religious belief in God and seek to know how the universe functions.
What is Creationism?
Creationists believe that God created everything in the universe. They also believe that the Bible is God's word and should be taken literally. Many creationists are Christians however, not all. Creationists typically fall into two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The most common kind of creationist is called 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 first six days of creation was literal and that the universe and life on Earth were only created recently.
OECs might not be as popular However, their beliefs are just as intense as those of YECs. OECs believe that the universe and life on Earth are billions of years old, and they believe that evolution is a myth.
Both types of creationism reject that scientific principles such as biogenesis and natural selection can explain how life came to be on Earth. They assert that evolution is not possible because it would require miracles. The founders of modern science shunned miracles in fear that they might lose their credibility.
Some creationists believe in both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and refer to their belief "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 evolve over time. Then, these evolutionary changes will produce new species that are identical to the original species.
Other creationists believe that God created the universe and all living things in a single event, known as the Great Flood. They believe that the first species were all created at the same time, and that they grew slowly afterward. They also deny the notion of abiogenesis and argue that the creation of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is unattainable.
In general, creationists oppose the teaching of evolution at 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 permit both creationism and evolution to be incorporated into their curricula.
What is Creationism?
When people think about creationism, they often 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 books. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent body that is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR), has led this effort. STR has secured its first victory by removing examples of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor, called the Archeopteryx, from textbooks. The next step is to eliminate excerpts from Darwin’s infamous finch-research and also on human evolution.
STR claims to have the support of around 4000 families and individuals. Its mission, it states, is to rid the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" which paints an image of students as being negative. 에볼루션 블랙잭 seeks to counter the influence of American Creationists in the United States. A survey of trainees in biology revealed that half of them did not believe evolution. The root causes are unclear, but may include religious beliefs and the lack of full-time creation scientists across the country.
The KACR has accomplished a lot in the past through lectures and seminar events. It publishes a bimonthly magazine, Creation, and has published books. Among these is a textbook on the natural sciences with a creationist viewpoint, which sparked interest in college communities. In 1991, a professor along with a minister, began teaching Creation Science at one university. It is still taught to students today.
On August 7 and 8 in 1993, the same day that 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 and its members have been giving talks on creation science at major seminaries, too. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.