Evolution Korea
Until recently the scientific community in Korea has been hesitant to engage with the creationists, fearing that doing so might increase the credibility of the movement. But silence is no anymore an option.
The STR has been fighting to get the content on evolution 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 evolved.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a theory of science that explains the evolution of genetic traits over time. The theory is based on the fact that living organisms adapt to their environment which can result in changes in genes or even complete genomes. Over many generations, these changes can lead to the emergence new species. Natural selection is the dominant theory of evolution. It describes how individuals with traits that are advantageous survive and reproduce more than those with disadvantageous ones. As time passes, this difference in reproduction can lead to the development of entirely new species.
The term "evolution" is derived from the Latin for revealing or unrolling has been used in a variety of different ways as the concept has changed in both science and in other fields. Early evolutionists, such as Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather), believed that existing species evolved into new species in a predetermined fashion. The term"transmutation" was coined by Lamarck's student embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire to describe this idea. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, attacked the idea of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy's student.
Recently, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process when living organisms develop traits that enhance their chances of survival or ability to produce offspring. As time passes, genetic variation can lead a population to acquire new physical traits or biological functions. Natural selection is the process that drives the majority of evolutionary changes. However non-genetic changes like increases in muscle mass due to diet or exercise cannot be considered examples of evolution because they are not passed on to future generations.
Creationists have a tendency to use the argument that evolution is controversial, despite the fact that it has been proven to be true by thousands of scientific tests and that it has stood the test of time. They claim that the theory should not be taught at school. In South Korea, creationists won some victories against evolution in high school textbooks. This includes the removal of references to the evolutionary roots of humans and Archaeopteryx - a feathered dinosaur believed to be the ancestor of birds.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution is the explanation for the origins of Earth and all living species. It is also a foundation of biology, and aids scientists to comprehend how living organisms operate and grow. Evolution also helps us understand the connections between species. Scientists study evolution in order to better understand nature and make useful discoveries like new medicines.
The evidence for biological evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains so many aspects of the universe and life on Earth and has been rigorously tested and verified over a long period of time. Many people, including religious leaders, are in favor of the theory of evolution as a scientific fact. It is important to understand that evolutionary biology doesn't interfere with religious beliefs, since the theory deals only with objects, events and processes within the physical world.
In fact many religious individuals have discovered ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolutionary theory. 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 crucial that scientists and educators speak out for the teaching evolution. In some countries around the world the anti-evolution movement is growing. In the United States, efforts to restrict the teaching of evolution have made some progress in some states. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) which is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research, is campaigning for the elimination of textbook content about the evolution of horses as well as the bird ancestor Archaeopteryx.
Although these are alarming developments, it is important to keep in mind that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a broad variety of sources, including fossils, genetic studies and the behavior of living organisms. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The majority of scientists believe in the theory of evolution. This support is based on various reasons. Some scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries, such as the development of new medicines and other treatments, while others use it to improve animal and plants species, mostly to benefit humans. Some scientists are simply curious, while others have a strong religious belief in God.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are people who believe that God created the universe and everything within 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 generally divided into two groups: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
The most common type of creationist is known as the YEC. They believe that God created the universe exactly in the way that is described in the Bible. YECs hold that the biblical account of the six days of creation was literal and that the universe and the life on Earth were created just recently.
OECs are less well known, but they're just as passionate about their beliefs as YECs. OECs believe that the universe and all life on Earth are billions of years old and they believe that evolution is an untruth.
Both kinds of creationism deny that scientific principles such as biogenesis and natural selection can explain how life came to be on Earth. They claim that evolution is not possible because it requires an extraordinary event, and that the founders of modern science shied away from miracles due to fear that they would lose credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolution as well as special creation and call their view “theistic evolution.” This is sometimes called "continuous creationism" or "evolution from created kinds." This theory states that God creates species from scratch and allows them to change over time. These evolutionary changes eventually will result in new species similar to the original.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things during a single event, referred to as the Great Flood. They believe that all the original species were created at the same moment and then gradually evolved. They reject the idea of abiogenesis, and argue that self-replicating life cannot arise from non-living matter.
In general, creationists are against teaching of evolution in schools. This is a position that is backed by a variety of professional organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education and the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. Certain scientists and educational institutions are, however, more flexible and allow both creationism and evolution to be included in their curriculum.
What exactly is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of creationism, many of them think of the United States. However, South Korea is also home to an anti-evolution movement. The publishers of high school textbooks have recently declared that they will be removing references to evolution from their textbooks. A group called 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. please click for source has secured its first victory by removing examples of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor, called the Archeopteryx, from textbooks. The focus is now on removing excerpts from Darwin's infamous finch research and on human evolution as well.
STR claims that it has the backing of 4,000 families and members. Its aim is to root out what it regards as the "atheist materialism" that paints an unhopeful worldview for students. It also seeks to counter the influence of American Creationists in the nation. A survey of biology students teachers found that about half do not believe in the concept of evolution. The causes aren't clear, but may include religious beliefs and the lack of full-time creation scientists across the United States.
The KACR has achieved a lot through its lectures and seminars in the past. It publishes a bimonthly journal called Creation and an ebook. One of them is a textbook on the natural sciences with a creationist viewpoint, which attracted the attention of college communities. In 1991 the year 1991, a minister and professor began teaching Creation Science in one university, and it is taught to this day.
On August 6-7 in 1993, the same day that the World Expo opened in Daejeon, KACR held a second International Symposium on Creation Research. Six lecturers from outside the country including ICR's John Morris and Steven Austin, spoke to thousands of people. KACR members and KACR have also presented lectures on the subject of creation science at major seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center.