Are Evolution Korea As Important As Everyone Says?
Evolution Korea
In the past, Korea's scientific community has refrained from engaging with the creationists, fearing that it could increase the credibility of the movement. Silence is no longer an option.
The STR has been fighting to remove evolution-related content from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestral bird. But this is merely one aspect of the evolution of the developmental paradigm.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a theory of science 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 environment, which can cause variations in genes or even complete genomes. These changes could over generations lead to the emergence of new species. Natural selection is the predominant theory of evolution. It explains how people who have advantages are more likely to reproduce and survive than those with less advantageous traits. In time, this disparity in reproduction can lead to the emergence of completely new species.
The word "evolution" is derived from the Latin word"evolution" which means unraveling or revealing, however the concept itself has had many different meanings over the years as it has taken form in the sciences and other fields. Some early evolutionists, including Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather), believed that existing species evolved into new species in a certain way. The term transmutation was coined by the Lamarck's disciple, embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, to describe this notion. Charles Lyell, who published the second volume of his Principles of Geology in 1833 challenged this notion and borrowed the term "evolution" from Geoffroy's student to describe the view that existing species change into new species in a gradual and predictable way.
Evolutionary biologists define evolution more recently as a process through which living organisms develop traits to improve their chances of living or conceiving offspring. In time, this genetic variability can result in the development of entirely new physical or biological traits in the same population. Natural selection is the process that drives the majority of evolutionary changes. Non-genetic changes, such as an increase in muscle mass due to exercise or diet, can't be considered evolution because they aren't passed on to the next generation.
Despite the fact that evolution has stood the test of time and a multitude of scientific studies, creationists have seized on the idea that evolution is controversial and argue that it shouldn't be taught in school. In South Korea, creationists have gained a few victories in their efforts to eliminate evolution from high-school textbooks, including the removal of any references to the evolutionary history of humans as well as the Archaeopteryx feathered dinosaur that is thought to be an ancestral bird's parent.
Why is Evolution Important to Humanity?
Evolution explains the origins and evolution of Earth and all living species. It is one of the fundamentals of biology, and helps scientists to understand how living things function and grow. Evolution also shows the connections between species. Scientists study evolution in order to better comprehend nature and make valuable discoveries, such as the development of new drugs.
The evidence for evolution 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 verified over a long period of time. Many people, including some religious leaders, believe in the theory of evolution as a scientific fact. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology does not contradict religions, since the theory is based on things, events and processes within the physical world.
Many religious people have discovered a way to reconcile evolution with their beliefs. For instance some Christians believe that God created the universe through evolution and that humans share an ancestry with other animals.
It is essential for science educators to advocate for the teaching of evolution. Unfortunately, in some countries around the world, anti-evolution sentiment is growing. In the United States some states have taken measures to restrict teaching evolution. In South Korea, a group known as the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC) is a campaign for textbook content on the evolutionary history of horses and their avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
While these are troubling developments, it is also important to keep in mind that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution comes from a variety of sources, including fossils, genetics and the behavior of living creatures. Other scientists independently confirm the evidence.
The majority of scientists agree with the theory of evolution. This support is based on various reasons. Certain scientists study evolution to discover practical solutions such as developing new drugs and other treatments, while others use it to improve the lives of animals and plant species, typically to benefit humans. Some scientists are just curious, whereas others have an intense faith 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 as such. While not all creationists are Christian but many are. Creationists typically fall into two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The most common kind of creationist is called the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in exactly the way that is described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of the first six days of creation was literal and that the universe and life on Earth were created just recently.
OECs may be less known however their beliefs are as fierce as those of YECs. OECs believe that the universe and all life on Earth are billions of years old, and they believe that evolution is a myth.
Both types of creationism reject the notion that scientific principles such as natural selection and abiogenesis can explain the origins of life on Earth. They claim that evolution is inconceivable because it requires miracles. The pioneers of modern science shunned miracles out of fear they might lose their credibility.
Some creationists believe in naturalistic evolution and also special creation, and refer to their belief as "theistic evolution." This is also referred to as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of species created." The theory suggests that God creates species from scratch and then allows these to change over time. Then the evolutionary changes create new species that are identical to the original species.
Other creationists believe that God created the universe and all living things in one event, known as the Great Flood. Creationists believe that all the species of the beginning were created at the same moment and then gradually evolved. They reject the idea of abiogenesis, and argue that self-replicating life can't come from non-living matter.
In general, the creationists are against teaching of evolution in schools. Numerous professional associations, like the National Science Teachers Association and the Association for Science Teacher Education endorse this view as do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. However, some scientists and educational institutions are more flexible and permit the inclusion of creationism and evolution in their curriculum.
What is Creationism?
When people think of creationism most often, they think of the United States. However, South Korea is also home to an anti-evolutionist movement. 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 from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) is the one who has led this drive. Suggested Resource site has secured its first victory in removing examples of the evolution of the horse as well as an avian ancestor, called the Archeopteryx in textbooks. Its next target is to eliminate excerpts from Darwin’s infamous finch-research as well as on human evolution.
STR claims that it has the backing of 4,000 families and individual members. Its aim is to root out what it regards as the "atheist materialism" that reflects a hopeless worldview for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American creationists who live in the US. A survey of the newest biology teachers revealed that a majority do not believe in evolution. The reasons for this are not clear, but may include religion and the absence of full-time creation scientists in the country.
The KACR accomplished a number of things through its lectures and seminars in the past. It publishes a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. The most notable of these is a text on the natural sciences that has a creationist viewpoint, which has sparked interest among college students. In 1991, a professor and minister started teaching Creation Science in one university and it continues to be taught to this day.
On August 6 and 7, 1993, KACR hosted a second International Symposium on Creation Research. It was held in conjunction with the opening of the World Expo in Daejeon. Six lecturers from the world, including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of several thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given talks on the subject of creation science at major seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center.