Evolution Korea
For a long time the scientific community in Korea has been hesitant to engage with the creationists, fearing that doing so could boost the credibility of the group. Silence is no longer an alternative.
The STR has been battling to get rid of textbooks that describe evolution, such as the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an ancestral bird's ancestor. However, this is just one aspect of the evolution of the developmental paradigm.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a theory of science that explains changes in genetic characteristics over time. The theory is based on fact that living things adapt to their surroundings, which can cause variations in genes, or even entire genomes. These changes can, over generations lead to the emergence of new species. Natural selection is the most popular theory of evolution. It explains how people who have advantages are more likely to reproduce and survive than those with less advantageous traits. Over time, this differential reproduction can result in the creation 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 evolved in both science and elsewhere. Early evolutionists like Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predestined to change into a new species. The term transmutation was coined by Lamarck's student, 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 view that existing species change into new species in an orderly and predictable manner.
In recent years, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process when living creatures develop characteristics that improve their chances of survival or ability to produce offspring. As time passes, genetic variation can cause a population develop new physical traits or biological functions. This change in gene frequencies is called natural selection, and is the primary driver behind evolutionary change. However, non-genetic changes such as the increase in muscle mass from exercise or diet cannot be considered examples of evolution since they are not passed on to future generations.
Creationists make 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 argue that the theory should not be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists have had a few wins in their campaign to exclude evolution from textbooks for high school and have also gotten rid of any mention of the evolutionary history of humans, as well as the Archaeopteryx, a feathered dinosaur that is thought to be an ancestral bird's parent.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains how the Earth and all its living species came to be. It is also a fundamental part of biology and helps scientists comprehend how living organisms operate and develop. Evolution also reveals the relationships between species. Scientists study evolution to better understand the natural world, and to discover useful information, such as developing new treatments.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains so much about the universe and life on this planet and has been rigorously tested and confirmed over the course of many years. Many people, including religious leaders, believe in the scientific theory of evolution. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology does not conflict with religions, since the theory is based on objects, events and processes in the physical world.
In fact many religious people have found ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolution. For instance, some Christians believe that God created the world through evolution, and that humans share an ancestry with other animals.
It is crucial that science educators stand up for teaching evolution. In certain countries, the anti-evolution movement has been 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, an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC) is a campaign for textbooks to include content on the evolutionary history of horses and their ancestral avian species Archaeopteryx.
Although these are alarming developments, it is important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution comes from a variety of sources, such as fossils, genetics, and the behavior of living creatures. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The vast majority of scientists supports the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this support are diverse. Some scientists study evolution to discover practical solutions, such as developing treatments and other treatments, while others are driven by the desire to improve the lives of animals and plant species, generally to benefit humans. Some are simply curious, and others have a deep faith in God and are seeking to understand how the universe functions.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are people who believe that God created the universe and everything within it. They also believe that the Bible is God's word and should be believed to be true. Although Creationists may not all be Christian, they are a majority. 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 six days of creation is literal and that the universe and life on Earth were only created recently.
OECs are less well known however they are as enthusiastic 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 types of creationism reject that scientific principles such as biogenesis and natural selection could explain how life came to be on Earth. They assert that evolution is not possible because it requires miracles. The founders of modern scientific thought resisted miracles in fear that they would lose their credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolutionary as well as special creation, and call their view “theistic evolution.” This is also referred to as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of species created." 에볼루션 무료체험 suggests that God creates species from scratch and then allows these to evolve over time. These evolutionary changes eventually will result in new species similar to the original.
Some creationists believe that God created all living things and the entire universe in one event known as the Great Flood. They believe that the original species were all created at the same time, and that they grew slowly afterward. They also deny the notion of abiogenesis and claim that the self-replicating creation of organisms from nonliving matter is not possible.
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 are in support of this view, as do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. Certain scientists and educational institutions are however more flexible and permit both creationism and evolution to be included in their curricula.
What is Creationism?
When people think about creationism, they often think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolutionist group. The publishers of high school textbooks have recently announced that they will remove references to evolution from their editions. 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, has led the drive. The STR has achieved its first victory by removing from textbooks examples of the evolution and ancestor of the bird, the Archeopteryx. The focus is now on removing excerpts from Darwin's notorious finch research and on human evolution, too.
STR claims that it has the support of 4,000 families and members. Its mission is to cut out what it believes is the "atheist materialism" that creates a bleak worldview for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American creationists who live in the US. A survey of trainee biology teachers found that about half do not believe in the concept of evolution. The causes aren't clear but could be due to religion and the absence of full-time creation scientists in the country.
The KACR has achieved many things through its seminars and lectures. It also publishes a bimonthly magazine called Creation and a book. The most notable of these is a text on the natural sciences with a creationist viewpoint, which has sparked interest among college students. In 1991, a professor together with a minister began teaching Creation Science at one university. It is still taught to students today.
On August 6 and 7, 1993, coinciding 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 and Steven Austin, spoke to a crowd of more than a thousand. KACR and its members have been delivering lectures on creation science at major seminaries as well. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center in the future.