Evolution Korea
For a long time the scientific community in Korea has refrained from engaging with creationists, afraid that it could boost the credibility of the group. The silence is no longer an alternative.
에볼루션사이트 has been fighting to get evolution-related content from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestor bird. This is only one aspect of how the concept of development has changed.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a theory of science that explains the change in the genetic traits of living organisms over time. The theory is based on the fact that living things adapt to their surroundings and this can lead to changes in genes or even complete 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 people with traits that are advantageous can reproduce faster and longer than those with disadvantageous ones. Over time, this differential reproduction could result in the creation of entirely new species.
The word "evolution" originates from the Latin word"evolution" which means unrolling or revealing. However, the concept itself has a myriad of meanings over the years as it has taken form in the fields of science and other fields. Early evolutionists, such as Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that the existing species evolved into new species in a certain way. Etienne Geoffroy St.Hilaire was Lamarck's embryologist student who coined the term "transmutation" to describe this theory. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, criticized the concept of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy’s student.
Recently, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process that occurs when living organisms develop traits that increase their chances of survival, or their ability to produce offspring. In time, this genetic variability can cause the emergence of completely new physical or biological traits in the population. Natural selection is the process that drives most evolutionary changes. Changes that are not genetic, like an increase in muscle mass due to exercise or diet, cannot be considered evolution because they aren't passed on to future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has stood the tests of time and thousands of scientific studies Creationists have taken advantage of the idea that evolution is controversial to argue that it shouldn't be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories against evolution in high school textbooks. This includes the removal of all references about the evolutionary history of humans as well as Archaeopteryx - a feathered dino which is believed to be the bird's ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains the origins of Earth and all living species. It is also a foundation of biology that helps scientists comprehend how living organisms operate and develop. Evolution also reveals the relationships between different species. Scientists study evolution in order to better comprehend nature and make important discoveries like new drugs.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains so much about the universe and life on Earth and has been thoroughly tested and confirmed over the course of many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in favor of the theory of evolution as a scientific fact. It is essential to remember that evolutionary biology doesn't 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 example certain Christians believe that God created the universe through evolution and that humans share an ancestral lineage with other animals.
It is essential that scientists and educators speak out for teaching evolution. Unfortunately, in a few countries around the globe the anti-evolution movement is growing. In the United States, efforts to restrict the teaching of evolution have made headway in a few states. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC), is campaigning for textbook content on the evolutionary history of horses and their ancestral avian species Archaeopteryx.
While these are troubling changes, it's important to keep in mind that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a broad range of sources, such as fossils, genetic studies, and the behavior of living organisms. Other scientists independently verify the evidence.
The majority of scientists support the theory of evolution. The reasons for this support are diverse. Some scientists study evolution in order to discover practical solutions such as developing new drugs and other treatments, while others use it to improve the quality of animal and plant species, mostly to benefit humans. Some scientists are just curious, while others have an intense faith in God.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are people who believe that God created the universe and all that is in it. They also believe that the Bible is the word of God and should be taken as such. Many creationists are Christians however, not all. Creationists are generally divided into two groups: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
The most popular type of creationist is the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in the exact way that is described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of the first six days of creation is literal and that the universe and the life on Earth were created only recently.
OECs might not be as well-known however their beliefs are just as fierce as the YECs. OECs believe that the universe and all life on Earth are billions of years old, and they believe that evolution is a myth.
Both types of creationism deny that scientific theories such as natural selection and abiogenesis can explain the origin of life on Earth. They claim that evolution is impossible, because it requires miracles. The pioneers of modern scientific thought resisted miracles out of fear they would lose their credibility.
Some creationists believe in naturalistic evolution and special creation, and refer to their belief as "theistic evolution." This is also known as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of created kinds." In this theory, God creates the original species and then allows them to change over time. Then, these evolutionary changes will produce new species that are similar to the original ones.
Some creationists believe that God created all living things and the universe in one event called the Great Flood. Creationists believe that the original species were created at the same time and that they grew slowly afterwards. They also reject the idea of abiogenesis, and argue that the creation of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is impossible.
In general, the creationists oppose teaching evolution at schools. This is supported by a variety of professional organizations, including the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education, the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. However, some scientists and educational institutions are more flexible, and allow the inclusion of creationism and evolution in their curriculum.
What is Creationism in Korea?
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 have recently announced that they will remove references to evolution from their books. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent body that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) is the one who has led this campaign. The STR has achieved its first victory by removing from textbooks the evidence of the evolution and ancestor of the avian, called the Archeopteryx. The next goal is to eliminate portions of Darwin's notorious finch-research as well as on human evolution.
STR claims to have the support of 4,000 families and individuals. Its mission is to cut out what it sees as the "atheist materialism" that reflects a hopeless worldview for students. It also seeks to counter the influence of American creationists in the United States. A survey of students in biology revealed that a majority of them did not believe evolution. The causes are not evident, but they could be due to religious beliefs or the lack of creation scientists in the United States.
The KACR has achieved a number of things through its lectures and seminar events. It has a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of them was a textbook on natural science with a cosmological perspective. This led to an interest in the college community. 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, 1993, coinciding with 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 an audience of several thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given lectures on creation science in prestigious seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center.