Evolution Korea

Up until recently the Korean scientific community resisted working with creationists due to the fear of giving the movement more credibility. Silence is no longer a viable option.

The STR has been fighting to get rid of textbooks that discuss evolution, including the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an early bird's ancestor. This is only one aspect of the evolution of the developmental paradigm.

What is Evolution?

Evolution is a scientific theory that explains the evolution of the genetic characteristics of living organisms over time. The theory is based on the fact that living organisms adapt to their environments and this can lead to changes in genes, or even entire genomes. These changes can over many generations result in the development of new species. The predominant theory of evolution is natural selection, which explains the process that allows those with favorable characteristics live and reproduce more often than those with disadvantages. Over time, this differential reproduction can result in the creation of entirely new species.

The word "evolution" originates from the Latin for unrolling or revealing has been used in a variety of different ways as the concept has developed in both science and 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. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire was Lamarck's embryologist disciple who invented the term "transmutation" to describe this view. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, criticized the concept of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy's student.

In recent years evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process when living things develop characteristics that improve their chances of survival or ability to produce offspring. As time passes the genetic variability could lead to the emergence of entirely new biological functions or physical traits in the population. Natural selection is the process that drives most evolutionary changes. However, non-genetic changes such as increases in muscle mass due to exercise or diet cannot be considered to be examples of evolution because they are not inherited by future generations.

Creationists are using the argument that evolution is controversial, despite the fact that it has been proven accurate by thousands of scientific tests and that it has been tested over time. They claim that the theory shouldn't be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists have had a few wins in their fight to remove evolution from high-school textbooks which includes the removal of any mention of the evolutionary roots of humans and the Archaeopteryx feathered dinosaur that is thought to be the ancestral bird's ancestor.

Why is Evolution Important for Humanity?

Evolution is the explanation for the origins of Earth and all living species. It is one of the fundamentals of biology, and aids scientists discover how living things operate and grow. Evolution also reveals the relationships between species. Scientists study evolution to understand the natural world and to discover useful information including the development of new medicines.

The evidence for evolution of biological species is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that can explain so much about the universe as well as life on this planet and has been rigorously tested and verified over the course of many years. Many people, even some religious leaders, are in support of the scientific theory. It is essential to remember that evolutionary biology does not contradict religious beliefs because it only deals with physical objects, events and processes.

In reality many religious individuals have found ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolutionary theory. Certain Christians for instance believe that God created everything through evolution and that humans share an ancestry that is shared with other animals.

It is essential that scientists and educators speak out for the teaching evolution. In some countries around the globe there is a growing anti-evolutionist sentiment. In the United States some states have taken measures to restrict teaching of evolution. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC) is a campaign for textbooks that cover the evolutionary history of horses and their avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.

While these are disturbing changes, it's important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution is based on a variety of sources, such as fossils, genetics and the behavior of living creatures. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.

The majority of scientists support the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this belief vary. Some scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries, such as developing medicines and other treatments, while others are driven by an interest in improving the quality of life for animals and plant species, generally for the benefit of humans. Some scientists are simply curious, while others hold a an intense faith in God.

What is Creationism?

Creationists believe that God created everything in the universe. They also believe that the Bible is the word of God and should be taken as such. Many creationists are Christians however, not all. Creationists are usually divided into two groups: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.

The YECs are the best known form 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 the first six days of creation was true and that the universe and life on Earth were created just recently.

OECs are not as well-known However, they are just as committed to their beliefs as YECs. OECs believe the universe and Earth are billions-of-years old and that evolution is a lie.

Both forms of creationism deny that scientific theories such as natural selection and abiogenesis can explain the origins of life on Earth. They claim that evolution is impossible because it requires the creation of a miracle, and the founders of modern science rejected miracles out of fear that they would lose credibility.

Some creationists believe in naturalistic evolution as well as special creation, and call their view "theistic evolution." This is also known as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of created kinds." In this theory, God creates the original species, and then allows them to change over time. Then the evolutionary changes result in new species identical to the original species.

Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things during a single event, referred to as the Great Flood. These creationists believe that the first species were all created simultaneously, and that they evolved slowly afterwards. They deny the notion of abiogenesis and claim that self-replicating living cannot come from nonliving matter.

In general, the creationists are opposed to the teaching of evolution in schools. Numerous professional associations, 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. Some academic institutions and 에볼루션 코리아 scientists are, however, more flexible and allow evolution and creationism to be incorporated into their curriculum.

What is Creationism?

When people think of the concept 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 announced that they will eliminate references to evolution from their editions. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent organization that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) has been the driving force behind this drive. STR has won its first victory in taking away instances of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor, called the Archeopteryx, from textbooks. Its next target is to take out the finch-research of Darwin's famed as well as on human evolution.

STR claims to have the support of around 4000 families and individuals. 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 across the country. A survey of students in biology revealed that half of them did not believe in evolution. The reasons for this are not clear however, they could be related to religious beliefs or the absence of full-time creation scientists across the country.

The KACR has achieved a number of things through its seminars and lectures. It has a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of them is a textbook 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 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 foreign lecturers, including ICR's John Morris and Steven Austin, spoke to a crowd of more than a thousand. KACR members and KACR have also presented lectures on the subject of creation science at major seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.