Evolution Korea
For a long time the Korean scientific community resisted engaging with creationists for fear of giving the movement more credibility. However, silence is no longer an option.
The STR has been fighting to get information about evolution from textbooks including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestral bird. But this is merely one aspect of the evolution of the development paradigm.
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 and this can lead to changes in genes or even whole genomes. Over the course of many generations the changes could result in the creation of new species. Natural selection is the dominant theory of evolution. It describes how individuals who have advantages survive and reproduce more than those with less favorable traits. Over time, this differential reproduction may result in the creation of completely new species.
The word "evolution", which comes from Latin for revealing or unrolling has been used in many different ways as the concept has developed in both science as well as elsewhere. Early evolutionists, such as 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 Lamarck's student embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, to describe this notion. 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 notion that existing species change into new species in a gradual and predictable way.
Evolutionary biologists define evolution more recently as a process by which living organisms develop traits to increase their chances of living or conceiving offspring. As time passes, this genetic variability can lead to the emergence of completely new physical or biological traits in the population. This variation in gene frequencies is known as natural selection and is the primary driver behind evolutionary change. However other changes that are not genetic, such as increases in muscle mass due to diet or exercise cannot be considered examples of evolution since they're not passed on to future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has stood the test of time and thousands of scientific studies however, creationists have taken advantage of the idea that the theory is controversial and argue that it should not be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists have gained a few victories in their campaign to exclude evolution from high school textbooks and have also gotten rid of any references to the evolutionary history of humans and the Archaeopteryx, a feathered dinosaur thought to be the ancestral bird's ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains how the Earth and all living species came to be. It is also one of the foundations of biology, and aids scientists understand how living things work and grow. Evolution also demonstrates how different species are linked. Scientists study evolution to better understand nature and make useful discoveries like new treatments.
The evidence for biological evolution is overwhelming. No other scientific theory explains as much about the universe as the life on this planet. It has been thoroughly scrutinized and confirmed for a number of years. Many people, including some religious leaders, are in favor of the theory of evolution as a scientific fact. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology does not conflict with religious beliefs as it only deals with physical objects, events and processes.
In reality, many religious people have come up with ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolutionary theory. Certain Christians, for example, believe that God created everything through evolution, and that humans share an ancestral connection to other animals.
It is important for scientists to stand up for the teaching of evolution. In some countries, the anti-evolution movement is growing. In the United States some states have taken measures to restrict teaching of evolution. In South Korea, a group known as 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 evolution of horses and their Avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
It is important to remember, however, that the evidence in support of evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a diverse range 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. The reasons behind this support vary. Scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries, such as developing new drugs and other treatments, while others use it to improve the quality of animal and plant species, typically to benefit humans. Some are simply curious, whereas still others have a deep faith in God and seek to know how the universe works.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are those who believe that God created the universe and everything within it. They also believe the Bible is God's word and should be interpreted in a literal manner. Many creationists are Christians however, not all. Creationists generally fall in one of two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The most well-known type of creationist is the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in the exact way described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of the six days of creation was true and that the universe and the life on Earth were created only recently.
OECs may be less known however their beliefs are as fierce like the YECs. OECs believe that the universe as well as Earth are billions of years old, and believe that evolution is a lie.
Both kinds of creationism deny the scientific theories that biogenesis and natural selection can explain how life began on Earth. They assert that evolution is inconceivable because it requires miracles. The founders of modern science shunned miracles because they feared they would lose their credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolutionary as well as special creation. They consider their views to be "theistic evolution.” This is also known as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of created kinds." In this belief system, God creates the original species and allows them to change over time. Eventually, these evolutionary changes will create new species that are identical to the original species.
Others believe that God created the universe and all living things during a single event, called the Great Flood. They believe that the original species were created simultaneously, and that they grew gradually afterward. 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. Numerous professional associations, such as the National Science Teachers Association and the Association for Science Teacher Education support this position and so do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. However, certain academic institutions and scientists are more flexible, and allow the inclusion of both evolution and creationism in their curriculum.
What is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of the concept of creationism most often, they think of the United States. However, South Korea is also home to an anti-evolution movement. Publishers of high school textbooks have recently announced that they will remove 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, has led the drive. Read Significantly more has secured its first victory by removing instances of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor called the Archeopteryx, from textbooks. It is now focusing on the removal of excerpts from Darwin's notorious finch research as well as on human evolution too.
STR claims that it has the support of 4,000 families and members. Its aim is to root out what it regards as the "atheist materialism" that creates a bleak worldview for students. It also aims to counteract the influence of American creationists who live in the US. A survey of undergraduates studying biology revealed that half of them did not believe evolution. The reasons aren't certain, but could be related to religion or the absence of creation scientists in the country.
The KACR has achieved many things in the past through seminars and lectures. It publishes a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. Among these is a textbook on the natural sciences with a creationist viewpoint, which sparked interest in college communities. 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, KACR hosted a second International Symposium on Creation Research. The event was held in conjunction with the opening of the World Expo in Daejeon. Six lecturers from outside the country including ICR's John Morris and Steven Austin presented to thousands of people. 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 near future.