Are Evolution Korea As Important As Everyone Says?

Evolution Korea

For a long time the scientific community in Korea has avoided engaging with creationists, afraid that doing so could give the movement more credibility. The silence is no longer an alternative.

The STR has been battling to remove content from textbooks that explain evolution, including the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an early bird's ancestor. However, this is just one aspect of the evolution of the development paradigm.

What is Evolution?

The theory of evolution is a scientific one that explains the evolution of genetic characteristics of living organisms over time. The theory is based on fact that living organisms adapt to their environments and this can lead to changes in genes, or even entire genomes. Over the course of many generations, these changes can lead to the emergence new species. Natural selection is the predominant theory of evolution. It describes how individuals with traits that are advantageous can reproduce faster and longer than those with less favorable traits. This differing reproduction may eventually lead to the creation and evolution of new species.

The term "evolution" is derived from the Latin for revealing or unrolling has been used in many different ways as the concept has changed, 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. 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 notion that existing species evolve into new species in a gradual and predictable way.

Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process in which living creatures develop traits to increase their chances of surviving or producing offspring. In time this genetic variation can lead to the emergence of entirely new physical or biological traits in a population. Natural selection is the main force behind the most evolutionary changes. Other changes that aren't genetic, such as an increase in muscle mass from exercise or diet, can't be considered evolution because they don't pass on to the next generation.

Despite the fact that evolution has stood the test of time and a multitude of scientific experiments, creationists have seized on the idea that the theory is controversial and claim that it shouldn't be taught in school. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories against evolution in textbooks for high schools. This includes the removal of all references about the evolutionary history of humans and Archaeopteryx - a feathered dino believed to be the bird's ancestor.

Why is Evolution Important?

Evolution explains how Earth and all living species evolved. It is one of the fundamentals of biology, and helps scientists to understand how living things function and grow. Evolution also shows how different species are linked. Scientists study evolution to better understand the natural world, and also to make important discoveries, such as developing new treatments.

The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. No other scientific theory can explain as much about the universe and the life on earth. It has been thoroughly examined and confirmed for many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory. It is important to note that evolutionary biology doesn't interfere with religions, since the theory only deals with objects, events and processes within the physical world.

In fact, many religious people have come up with ways to reconcile their beliefs with the theory of evolution. Certain Christians for instance believe that God created everything through evolution and that humans have a common ancestry to other animals.

It is important that science educators stand up for teaching evolution. In some countries, the anti-evolution movement has been 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 (STR), an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research is urging the elimination of textbook content on the evolution of horses and the bird ancestral Archaeopteryx.

It is important to remember that the evidence in support of evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a wide range of sources, such as fossils, genetic studies and the behavior of living organisms. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.

The vast majority of scientists support the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this support vary. Scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries such as developing new drugs, while others do so to improve animal and plants species, mostly to benefit of humans. Some scientists are simply curious, while others hold a a strong religious belief in God.

What is Creationism?

Creationists believe that God created everything in the universe. They also believe that the Bible is God's word and should be believed to be true. Many creationists are Christians, but not all. Creationists are generally divided into two categories: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth website creationists.

The YECs are the best known form of creationist, and they believe that God created the world 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 the life on Earth began only recently.

OECs might not be as popular However, their beliefs are just as passionate as the YECs. OECs believe 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 the scientific theories that natural selection and biogenesis can explain how life started on Earth. They argue that evolution is impossible, because it requires miracles. The founders of modern scientific thought shunned miracles in fear that they would lose their credibility.

Some creationists accept naturalistic evolutionary and special creation, and refer to their belief as "theistic evolution.” This is also known as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of species created." In this theory, God creates the original species and then allows them to change over time. These evolution changes will eventually result in new species similar to the original.

Some creationists believe that God created all living things and the universe in one event known as the Great Flood. These creationists hold 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 cannot arise from non-living matter.

In general, the creationists oppose teaching evolution at schools. This position is supported by numerous professional organizations which include the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education as well as the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. Some academic institutions and scientists, however, are more flexible and allow evolution and creationism to be incorporated into their curricula.

What is Creationism?

When people think of the concept of creationism typically think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolutionist group. The publishers of high school textbooks have recently declared that they will be removing references to evolution from their editions. A group dubbed the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) is an unofficial body that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research, has led the drive. The STR has won its first victory by removing from textbooks the evidence of the evolution and ancestor of the avian, the Archeopteryx. Its sights are now set on the removal of excerpts from Darwin's notorious finch research as well as on human evolution, too.

STR claims that it has the backing of 4,000 families and 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 biology students teachers revealed that a majority do not believe in the concept of evolution. The causes aren't clear however, they could be related to religious beliefs and the lack of full-time creation scientists in the United States.

The KACR achieved many things through its seminars and lectures in the past. It publishes a bimonthly magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of them was a textbook on natural sciences with a cosmological perspective. This sparked an interest in the college community. 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 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 presented to a crowd of more than a thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given talks on creation science in major seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center.