Evolution Korea
Up until recently, the Korean scientific community resisted working with creationists due to the fear of giving the movement more credibility. The silence is no longer an alternative.
The STR has been fighting to remove the content on evolution from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestor bird. This is only one aspect of the evolution of the developmental paradigm.
What is Evolution?
The theory of evolution is a branch of science that explains the evolution of genetic traits over time. The theory is based on the fact that living organisms adjust to their environment, which could result in changes to genes or whole genomes. Over the course of many generations these changes could result in the creation of new species. The predominant theory of evolution is known as natural selection, which explains the process that allows those with favorable characteristics live and reproduce more frequently than those with disadvantages. In time, this disparity in reproduction may result in the creation of completely new species.
The word "evolution", which comes from Latin for revealing or unrolling has been used in a variety of different ways as the concept has evolved, both in science as well as elsewhere. Early evolutionists like Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predetermined to evolve into a different species. Etienne Geoffroy St.Hilaire was Lamarck's embryologist student who invented the term "transmutation" to describe this view. Charles Lyell, who published the second volume of his Principles of Geology in 1833, attacked this idea and borrowed the term "evolution" from Geoffroy's student to describe the idea that existing species evolve into other species in a gradual and predictable manner.
Recently, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process that occurs when living creatures develop characteristics that increase their chances of survival, or their ability to produce offspring. As time passes this genetic variation can result in the development of completely new physical or biological functions in the population. Such a change in gene frequencies is called natural selection, and it drives most evolutionary changes. However, non-genetic changes such as the growth in the muscle mass as a result of exercise or diet cannot be considered examples of evolution since they're not passed on to future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has stood the test of time and a multitude of scientific tests, creationists have seized on the idea that evolution is controversial and claim that it shouldn't be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists won some victories against evolution in high school textbooks. This includes the removal of references about the evolutionary history of humans as well as Archaeopteryx - a feathered dinosaur believed to be the bird's ancestor.
Why is Evolution important to humanity?
Evolution is the explanation for the origins of Earth and all living species. It also serves as a basis of biology, and aids scientists to learn how living organisms function and develop. Evolution also reveals the relationships between species. Scientists study evolution to better understand the natural world, and to make useful discoveries like the development of 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 as well as life on Earth and has been rigorously tested and confirmed over the course of many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in support of the scientific theory. It is crucial to keep in mind that evolutionary biology does not interfere with religious beliefs since it only addresses physical objects, events and processes.
In reality, many religious people have found ways to reconcile their beliefs with the theory of evolution. Some Christians, for example, believe that God created everything through evolution and that humans share an ancestry that is shared with other animals.
It is essential for scientists to advocate for the teaching of evolution. Unfortunately, in a few nations around the world, anti-evolution sentiment is growing. In the United States, efforts to restrict the teaching of evolution have made some progress in a few states. 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 to include content on the evolutionary history of horses and their Avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
Although these are alarming developments, it is important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution is based on a variety of sources, including fossils, genetics, and even the behavior of living creatures. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The majority of scientists believe in the theory of evolution. The reason for this is a variety of reasons. Scientists study evolution to discover practical solutions, such as developing treatments and other treatments, while others are driven by a desire to improve animal and plant species, typically to benefit humans. Some scientists are simply curious, while others have an intense belief 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 generally fall in one of two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The most popular type of creationist is the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in exactly the way that is described in the Bible. YECs believe that the biblical account of the six days of creation is true, and that the universe and life on Earth started only recently.
OECs may be less well-known however their beliefs are as fierce like 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 kinds of creationism deny the idea that scientific principles like natural selection and biogenesis can explain how life started on Earth. They claim that evolution is not possible because it would require the creation of a miracle, and the pioneers of modern science eschewed miracles for fear that they would lose credibility.
Some creationists are able to accept both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and call their view "theistic evolution." It is sometimes referred to as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the created species." The theory suggests that God creates species from scratch and allows them to evolve over time. These evolution changes will eventually result in new species that are similar to the original.
Others believe that God created the universe and all living things in a single event, referred to as the Great Flood. Creationists believe that all species were created at the same moment and that they gradually evolved. They reject the concept of abiogenesis and claim here that self-replicating life cannot arise from non-living matter.
In general, creationists oppose the teaching of evolution in 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. However, certain scientists and educational institutions are more flexible, and allow for the inclusion of both evolution and creationism in their curricula.
What exactly is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of creationism typically think of the United States. However, South Korea is also the home of an anti-evolutionist movement. The publishers of textbooks for high school students have recently announced that they will remove references to evolution from their textbooks. A group called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) is an unofficial body 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 evidence of the evolution and ancestor of an bird, the Archeopteryx. The next goal is to take out the finch-research of Darwin's famed and also on human evolution.
STR claims that it has the support of 4000 families and individuals. Its aim is to root out what it sees as the "atheist materialism" that creates a bleak worldview for students. It also seeks to counter the influence of American Creationists in the United States. A survey of trainees in biology found that half 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 accomplished a lot in the past through lectures and seminar events. It publishes a bimonthly journal called Creation and a book. Among these is a textbook on the natural sciences with a creationist viewpoint, 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 in the present.
On August 6-7 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 around the world including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of a few thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given lectures on creation science in major seminaries. KACR plans to create a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.