Evolution Korea
Up until recently the Korean scientific community resisted engaging with creationists for fear of giving the movement more credibility. However, silence is no anymore an option.
The STR has been campaigning to remove content from textbooks that discuss evolution, including 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?
Evolution is a scientific theory that explains the change in the genetic traits of living organisms over time. The theory is based on fact that living things adapt to their environments, which can cause variations in genes or even whole genomes. These changes can over many generations result in the development of new species. The prevailing theory of evolution is called natural selection, which explains the process that allows people with advantages survive and reproduce more often than those with disadvantages. As time passes, this difference in reproduction could lead to the emergence of entirely new species.
The word "evolution" originates from Latin for unrolling or revealing has been used in many different ways as the concept has developed, both in science as well as elsewhere. Early evolutionists, such as Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that the existing species changed into other species in a planned manner. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire was Lamarck's embryologist disciple who invented the term "transmutation" to describe this theory. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, challenged the idea of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy's student.
Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process by which living creatures develop traits that increase their chances of surviving or conceiving offspring. In time, this genetic variability can result in the development of entirely new physical or biological functions in a population. Natural selection is the mechanism that triggers the majority of evolutionary changes. However, non-genetic changes such as the growth in muscle mass due to exercise or diet cannot be considered to be examples of evolution since they are not inherited by the next generation.
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 and argue that it should not be taught in school. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories over evolution in textbooks for high school. This includes the removal of all references about the evolutionary history of humans as well as Archaeopteryx - a feathered dino believed to be the ancestral bird's first ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important to Humanity?
Evolution is the explanation for the origins of Earth and all living species. It is one of the fundamentals of biology and helps scientists understand how living things work and grow. Evolution also shows how various species are connected. Scientists study evolution to better comprehend nature and make valuable discoveries such as new treatments.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. No other scientific theory can explain more about the universe and the life on this planet. It has been thoroughly studied and verified for many years. Many people, including religious leaders, support the scientific theory of evolution. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology does not contradict religious beliefs because it only deals with physical objects, events and processes.
Many religious people have discovered a way to reconcile evolution with their beliefs. For instance, some Christians believe that God created the world through evolution and that humans share an ancestral lineage with other animals.
It is essential that science educators advocate for the teaching of evolution. In certain countries, the opposition to evolution has been rising. In the United States, efforts to restrict the teaching of evolution have made progress in some states. In South Korea, a group known as the Society for Textbook Revise (STR), an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research is pushing for the elimination of textbook content about the evolution of horses as well as the avian ancestral Archaeopteryx.
While these are disturbing developments, it is also important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution comes from many sources, including fossils, genetics, and even the behavior of living creatures. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The majority of scientists supports the theory of evolution. The reason for get more info this is many different reasons. Certain scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries, such as developing new drugs, while others do so to improve the lives of animals and plant species, mostly to benefit of humans. Some are simply curious, while others have a deep religious belief in God and want to understand how the universe functions.
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 as such. Although not all creationists are Christian but many are. Creationists are typically divided into two groups: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
The most common type of creationist is the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in the exact manner described in the Bible. YECs hold 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 are not as well-known However, they are just as committed to their beliefs as YECs. OECs believe the universe and Earth are billions of years old and that evolution is a lie.
Both types of creationism reject the notion that scientific theories such as natural selection and abiogenesis could explain the origins of life on Earth. They claim that evolution is not possible because it requires the creation of a miracle, and the pioneers of modern science shied away from miracles due to fear of losing credibility.
Some creationists are able to accept both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and refer to their position "theistic evolution." This is also referred to 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. Eventually the evolutionary changes create new species that are identical to the original species.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things in one event, referred to as the Great Flood. These creationists hold that all the species of the beginning were created at the same time and then slowly evolved. They also reject the concept of abiogenesis and argue that the self-replicating creation of organisms from nonliving matter is unattainable.
In general, the creationists are against teaching evolution at schools. This position is supported by a variety of professional organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education, the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. Certain scientists and educational institutions are, however, more flexible and permit both evolution and creationism to be included in their curriculum.
What exactly is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of the concept of creationism, they often think of the United States. However, South Korea is also home to an anti-evolutionist movement. The publishers of high school textbooks announced last week that they would remove references to evolution from their editions. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent organization that is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR), has led this effort. The STR has won its first victory by removing from textbooks examples of the evolution and ancestor of the bird, the Archeopteryx. The next goal is to eliminate excerpts from Darwin’s infamous finch-research as well as on human evolution.
STR claims that it has the support of 4,000 families and members. The goal, according to STR is to cleanse the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" which paints a negative view for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American creationists in the country. A survey of trainee biology teachers found that about half do not believe in evolution. The reasons for this aren't entirely certain, but could be related to religious beliefs or the absence of creation scientists in the country.
The KACR has achieved many things through its seminars and lectures. It has a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of them is a textbook on the natural sciences that has an orthodox creationist perspective, which sparked interest in college communities. In 1991 the year 1991, a minister and professor started teaching Creation Science in one university, and it continues to be taught to this day.
On August 7 and 8, 1993, coinciding with the World Expo opened in Daejeon, KACR held a second International Symposium on Creation Research. Six lecturers from around the world including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of over a thousand. KACR and its members have given talks on creation science at major seminaries as well. KACR plans to create a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.