Evolution Korea
Up until recently the Korean scientific community avoided working with creationists due to the fear of giving the movement more credibility. However, 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 only one aspect of the way in which the development paradigm has evolved.
What is Evolution?
The theory of evolution is a branch of science that explains changes in genetic traits over time. The theory is based on fact that living organisms adapt to their surroundings and this can lead to changes in genes, or even entire genomes. Over many generations the changes could result in the creation of new species. The predominant theory of evolution is natural selection, which explains the process through which those with favorable characteristics live and reproduce more frequently than those with less favorable characteristics. This differing reproduction may eventually lead to the emergence and evolution of new species.
The word "evolution" originates from Latin for unrolling or revealing has been used in a variety of different ways as the concept has evolved, both in science and elsewhere. Early evolutionists, such as Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that existing species transformed into other species in a predetermined fashion. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire was Lamarck's embryologist pupil who invented the term "transmutation" to describe this idea. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, attacked the concept of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy's student.
More recently evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process when living things develop characteristics that improve their chances of survival or the ability to reproduce offspring. Over time, this genetic variability can result in the development of entirely new physical or biological traits in the population. Natural selection is the mechanism that triggers the most evolutionary changes. However other changes that are not genetic, such as increases in muscle mass from diet or exercise can't be considered to be examples of evolution since they are not inherited by future generations.
Creationists have a tendency to use the argument that evolution is controversial, in spite of the fact that it has been proven true by thousands of scientific tests and that it has been tested over time. They claim that the theory shouldn't be taught in schools. 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 ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains the origins and evolution of Earth and all living species. It is also a foundation of biology that helps scientists learn how living organisms function and develop. Evolution also demonstrates how different species are interconnected. Scientists study evolution to better understand nature and make useful discoveries like new treatments.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains so much about the universe as well as life on earth, and it has been thoroughly tested and confirmed over the course of many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory of evolution. It is essential to remember that evolutionary biology does not interfere with religious beliefs since it only deals with 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 world through evolution, and that humans share an ancestry with other animals.
It is essential that scientists and educators speak out for the teaching evolution. In some countries around the globe, anti-evolution sentiment is growing. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit the teaching of evolution. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC) is pushing for textbooks to include content on the evolution of horses and their 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 range of sources, such as fossils, genetic studies and the behavior of living organisms. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The vast majority of scientists supports the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this support vary. Certain scientists study evolution in order to discover practical solutions that can lead to the development of new medicines, while others are motivated by a desire to improve animal and plant species, generally for the benefit of humans. Some scientists are just curious, while others hold a an intense faith in God.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are those 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 literally. Many creationists are Christians, but not all. Creationists are usually divided into two categories: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
YECs are the most well known form of creationist, and they believe that God created the universe exactly as described in the Bible. YECs hold that the biblical account of the first six days of creation is literal and that the universe as well as life on Earth were created only recently.
OECs might not be as known however their beliefs are as fierce like the YECs. OECs believe that the universe as well as Earth are billions-of-years old and that evolution is a myth.
Both forms of creationism deny that scientific theories such as natural selection and abiogenesis are able to explain the origin of life on Earth. They argue that evolution isn't possible because it would require the creation of a miracle, and the pioneers of modern science shied away from miracles due to fear of losing credibility.
Some creationists believe in both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and call their belief "theistic evolution." This is also referred to as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of species created." In this theory, God creates the original species and allows them to evolve over time. These evolutionary changes will eventually produce new species similar to the original.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things in a single event, called the Great Flood. They believe that the original species were created simultaneously, and that they evolved gradually afterward. They reject the concept of abiogenesis and claim that self-replicating living cannot come from nonliving matter.
In general, the creationists are opposed to the teaching of evolution in schools. Numerous professional associations, 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. However, some researchers and educational institutions are more flexible and allow the inclusion of both evolution and creationism in their curriculum.
What is Creationism?
When people think of creationism, many of them think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolution group. The publishers of textbooks for high school students have recently announced that they will eliminate references to evolution from their textbooks. A group known as the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) is an independent organization that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research which is the driving force behind the campaign. The STR has scored its first victory by removing from textbooks the evidence of the evolution and ancestor of the bird, the Archeopteryx. It is now focusing on the removal of excerpts from Darwin's infamous finch research and on human evolution, too.
STR claims that it has the support of around 4,000 families and individuals. Its mission, it states is to cleanse the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" that paints an unflattering image for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American creationists in the United States. A survey of trainees in biology revealed that a majority of them didn't believe in evolution. The reasons aren't clear, but could include religious beliefs or the lack of creation scientists in the United here States.
The KACR accomplished a number of things through its lectures and seminars in the past. It publishes a bimonthly magazine called Creation and a book. One of them is a textbook on the natural sciences that has an orthodox creationist perspective, 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 in the present.
On August 7 and 8 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 abroad including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of over a thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given lectures on creation science in prestigious seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center.