Evolution Korea
In the past the Korean scientific community avoided engaging with the creationists, fearing that doing so might boost the credibility of the group. But silence is no anymore an option.
The STR has been fighting to get information about evolution from textbooks including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestor bird. However, this is just one aspect of the evolution of the development 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 upon the fact that living organisms adjust to their environment, which could lead to variations in genes or even whole genomes. Over time, these changes can result in the emergence of new species. The most popular theory of evolution is known as natural selection, which explains the process by which people with advantages survive and reproduce more often than those with disadvantages. This differing reproduction may eventually lead to the emergence and evolution of new species.
The word "evolution" is derived from the Latin word meaning unraveling or revealing, however the concept itself has had many different meanings over the years as it has taken form in the sciences and in other fields. Some early evolutionists, including Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather), believed that existing species transformed into other species in a planned manner. The term transmutation was coined by the Lamarck's disciple embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 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 notion that species are evolving into other species in a gradual and predictable way.
In recent years evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process when living organisms develop traits that improve their chances of survival or the ability to reproduce offspring. Over time, genetic variability can cause a population to acquire new physical traits or biological functions. Natural selection is the mechanism that triggers most evolutionary changes. However, non-genetic changes such as increases in the muscle mass as a result of diet or exercise cannot be considered to be examples of evolution since they are not inherited by the next generation.
Despite the fact that evolution has withstood the test of time and thousands of scientific studies however, creationists have taken advantage of the notion that the theory is controversial and argue that it shouldn't be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists have gained a few victories in their campaign to exclude evolution from high-school textbooks which includes the removal of references to the evolutionary roots of humans and the Archaeopteryx, a feathered dinosaur that is thought to be the ancestral bird's parent.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains the origins and evolution of Earth and all living species. It is also a fundamental part of biology, and aids scientists to understand how living organisms work and grow. Evolution also shows how various species are interconnected. Scientists study evolution to gain a better understanding of the natural world and also to make important discoveries including the development of new treatments.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains more about the universe and life on this planet. It has been thoroughly examined and confirmed for many years. Many people, including some 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 instance some Christians believe that God created the world through evolution and that humans share an ancestral lineage with other animals.
It is important for scientists to support the teaching of evolution. In some countries around the world, anti-evolution sentiment is growing. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit teaching of evolution. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) which is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research is pushing for the removal of textbook content about the evolution of horses as well as the avian ancestral Archaeopteryx.
It is important to remember that the evidence in support of evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution comes from many sources, such as fossils, genetics, and even the behavior of living creatures. Other scientists independently verify the evidence.
The vast majority of scientists supports the theory of evolution. This belief is based on a variety of reasons. Certain scientists study evolution in order to make practical discoveries that can lead to the development of new treatments or developing new medicines, while others are driven by the desire to improve the lives of animals and plant species, typically for the benefit of humans. Some scientists are simply curious, while others hold a 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 the Bible is God's word and should be interpreted in a literal manner. Many creationists are Christians, but not all. Creationists are generally divided into two groups: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
The YECs are perhaps the most well known type of creationist, and they believe that God created the universe in the exact way described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of the six days of creation is literal and that the universe and life on Earth was created only recently.
OECs are less well known, but they are just as passionate about their beliefs as YECs. OECs believe click here that the universe and life on Earth are billions of years old and they believe that evolution is an untruth.
Both forms of creationism deny that scientific principles such as natural selection and abiogenesis are able to explain the origin of life on Earth. They argue that evolution is not possible because it requires miracles. The pioneers of modern scientific thought resisted miracles because they feared they could lose their credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolution and also special creation. They refer to their belief as "theistic evolution.†It is sometimes known as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the created species." In this view, God creates the original species, and then allows them to evolve over time. In the end these evolutionary changes will result in new species similar to the original ones.
Some creationists believe that God created all living things and the universe in a single event called the Great Flood. They believe that the original species were all created simultaneously, and that they grew gradually afterward. They reject the idea of abiogenesis and assert that self-replicating life cannot arise from non-living matter.
In general, creationists oppose the teaching of evolution in schools. Numerous professional organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association and the Association for Science Teacher Education endorse this view and so do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. Some scientists and educational institutions are however more flexible and allow evolution and creationism to be incorporated into their curricula.
What is Creationism?
When people think of the concept of creationism most often, they think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolution group. The publishers of high school textbooks have recently declared that they will be removing 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) has been the driving force behind this campaign. The STR has achieved 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 excerpts from Darwin’s infamous finch-research and also on human evolution.
STR claims that it has the support of 4,000 families as well as individual members. Its goal is to weed out what it regards as the "atheist materialism" that paints an unhopeful worldview for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American Creationists in the United States. A survey of students 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 achieved a lot through its lectures and seminars in the past. It publishes a bimonthly journal called Creation and the book. One of them is a textbook on the natural sciences, with 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 to students today.
On August 6-7, 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 several thousand. KACR and its members have given lectures on creation science at major seminaries as well. KACR plans to create a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.