Evolution Korea
For a long time the Korean scientific community resisted working with creationists due to the fear of giving the movement more credence. But silence is no anymore an option.
The STR has been campaigning to eliminate content from textbooks that discuss evolution, such as the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an ancestor of birds. This is just one aspect of the way in which the development paradigm has changed.
What is Evolution?
The theory of evolution is a branch of science that explains changes in genetic traits over time. The theory is based on the fact that living organisms adapt to their environment, which may result in variations in genes or entire genomes. These changes can, over generations lead to the emergence of new species. Natural selection is the predominant theory of evolution. It explains how individuals with traits that are advantageous are more likely to reproduce and survive than those with less favorable traits. As time passes, this difference in reproduction can result in the creation of entirely new species.
The term "evolution" is derived from the Latin for unrolling or revealing has been used in a variety of different ways as the concept has evolved in both science and in other fields. Some early evolutionists, like Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that existing species evolved into new 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 challenged this notion and borrowed the term "evolution" from Geoffroy's student to describe the view that existing species change into different species in a gradual and predictable manner.
More recently, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process when living creatures develop characteristics that improve their chances of survival or the ability to produce offspring. In time, this genetic variability can result in the development of completely new biological functions or physical traits in the same population. Natural selection is the mechanism that triggers the majority of evolutionary changes. However other changes that are not genetic, such as the growth in muscle mass from diet or exercise can't 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 even though it has been proven accurate by thousands of scientific tests and that it has been tested over time. They claim that the theory should not be taught at school. In South Korea, creationists have won a few victories in their campaign to exclude evolution from high school textbooks, including the removal of any references to the evolutionary roots of humans and the Archaeopteryx, a feathered dinosaur believed to be an ancestor of birds.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains the origins of Earth and all living species. It also serves as a basis of biology and helps scientists understand how living organisms work and grow. Evolution also shows how different species are linked. Scientists study evolution to gain a better understanding of the natural world and to discover useful information like the development of new drugs.
The evidence for evolution of biological species is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains as much about the universe as the life on earth. It has been rigorously examined and confirmed for many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in support of the scientific theory. It is essential to remember that evolutionary biology does not interfere with religious beliefs since it only focuses on physical objects, events, and processes.
In fact many religious individuals have come up with ways to reconcile their beliefs with the theory of evolution. Some Christians for instance, believe that God created everything through evolution and that humans have an ancestral connection to other animals.
It is crucial for science educators to support the teaching of evolution. In some countries, anti-evolution sentiment has been rising. In the United States, efforts to limit the teaching of evolution have made progress in a few states. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR), an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research is pushing for the removal of textbooks on the evolution of horses and the bird ancestor Archaeopteryx.
Although these are alarming changes, it's important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a broad range of sources, including fossils, genetic studies, and the behavior of living organisms. Other scientists independently verify the evidence.
The majority of scientists agree with the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this belief vary. Certain scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries, such as developing new drugs and other treatments, while others use it to improve the lives of animals and plant species, usually for the benefit humans. Some are simply curious, whereas others have a profound religious belief in God and seek to know how the universe functions.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are those who believe that God created the universe and all that is in 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 typically divided into two categories: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
The YECs are the best 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 six days of creation is literal and that the universe and the life on Earth were only created recently.
OECs might not be as well-known, but their beliefs are just as fierce like the YECs. OECs believe that the universe and life on Earth are billions of years old and they believe that evolution is a myth.
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 impossible because it requires an extraordinary event, and that the scientists who founded modern science rejected miracles out of fear of losing credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolutionary as well as special creation and consider their views to be "theistic evolution." This is also known as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of species created." In this view, God creates the original species and then allows them to change over time. These evolutionary changes will eventually produce new species that are similar to the original.
Other creationists believe that God created the universe and all living things during a single event, referred to as the Great Flood. Creationists believe that all species were created at the same moment and then slowly evolved. They deny the notion of abiogenesis and claim that self-replicating living cannot come from nonliving matter.
In general, creationists oppose the teaching of evolution at schools. Numerous professional organizations such as 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, certain academic institutions and scientists are more flexible, and permit the inclusion of creationism and evolution in their curriculum.
What is Creationism?
When mouse click the following article think of creationism, they often think of the United States. However, South Korea is also home to an anti-evolution movement. The publishers of textbooks for high school students have recently declared that they will be removing references to evolution from their editions. A group dubbed the Society for Textbook Revise (STR), an independent body that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research which is the driving force behind the campaign. STR has won its first victory in eliminating instances of the evolution of the horse as well as an avian ancestor, the Archeopteryx from textbooks. 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 around 4,000 families and individuals. Its goal, it says, is to rid the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" which paints an unflattering image for students. It also seeks to counter the influence of American creationists in the United States. A survey of biology students teachers revealed that around half do not believe in the concept of evolution. The causes aren't clear, but may include religion and the absence of full-time creation scientists in the United States.
The KACR has achieved a number of things in the past through lectures and seminar events. It has a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of them was a textbook on natural science with a cosmological perspective. It sparked interest among college communities. In 1991 an academic and minister started teaching Creation Science in one university and it continues to be taught to this day.
On August 6 and 7 the 7th of August 1993, which coincided with the World Expo opened in Daejeon, KACR held a second International Symposium on Creation Research. Six lecturers from the world, including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of over a thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given lectures on the subject of creation science at major seminaries. KACR plans to create a Creation Science Education Center in the future.