Evolution Korea

Up until recently, the Korean scientific community was hesitant about engaging with the creationists out of fear of giving the movement more credibility. Silence is no longer an option.

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

What is Evolution?

Evolution is a concept in science that explains changes in genetic characteristics over time. The theory is based on the fact that living things adapt to their surroundings which can result in changes in genes or even complete genomes. Over time, these changes can lead to the emergence new species. The most popular theory of evolution is known as natural selection, which describes the process through which those with favorable characteristics live and reproduce more often than those with disadvantageous characteristics. This differential reproduction can, over time, lead to the emergence and evolution of new species.

The term "evolution" originates from the Latin word for unraveling or revealing, however the concept itself has had many different meanings over the years as it has taken form in the fields of science and other fields. Early evolutionists such as Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predestined to change into a new species. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire, Lamarck's embryologist pupil who came up with the term "transmutation" to describe this view. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, criticized the idea 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 increase their chances of survival, or their ability to produce offspring. As time passes, this genetic variability can lead to the emergence of entirely new physical or biological traits in a population. Natural selection is the process that drives the most evolutionary changes. Non-genetic changes, evolutionkr such as an increase in muscle mass from exercise or diet, can't be considered to be evolution since they aren't passed on to future generations.

Despite the fact that evolution has stood the tests of time and thousands of scientific tests Creationists have taken advantage of the notion that the theory is controversial and claim that it shouldn't be taught in school. In South Korea, creationists won some victories against evolution in textbooks for high school. This includes the removal of references about the evolutionary origins for humans as well as Archaeopteryx - a feathered dinosaur which is believed to be the ancestral bird's first ancestor.

Why is Evolution Important?

Evolution explains how Earth and all its living creatures came into existence. It is also one of the foundations of biology, and helps scientists to understand how living things function and develop. Evolution also demonstrates how different species are connected. Scientists study evolution to gain a better understanding of the natural world and also to make important discoveries including the development of new drugs.

The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains so much about the universe as well as life on this planet and has been rigorously tested and confirmed over a long period of time. Many people, including some religious leaders, support the scientific theory of evolution. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology doesn't interfere with religious beliefs, since the theory is based on things, events and processes in the physical world.

Many religious people have come up with a way of reconciling evolution with their beliefs. For example, some Christians believe that God created the universe through evolution, and that humans share an ancestry with other animals.

It is crucial for science educators to support the teaching of evolution. In certain countries, the opposition to evolution is growing. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit teaching of 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 textbooks to include content on the evolutionary history of horses and their Avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.

Although these are alarming developments, it is also important to keep in mind that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a diverse range of sources, such as fossils, genetic studies and the behavior of living organisms. Other scientists independently confirm the evidence.

The vast majority of scientists believe in the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this belief are diverse. Some scientists are studying evolution to make practical discoveries such as the development of new medicines, while others do so to improve animal and plants species, usually for the benefit of humans. Some scientists are simply curious, while others have an intense belief in God.

What is Creationism?

Creationists are people who believe that God created the universe and everything in it. They also believe that the Bible is God's word and should be interpreted in a literal manner. Many creationists are Christians however, not all. Creationists are usually divided into two groups: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.

The most common type of creationist is the YEC. They believe that God created the universe exactly in the manner 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 started only recently.

OECs aren't as known however their beliefs are as intense as those of YECs. OECs believe that the universe as well as Earth are billions of years old and believe that evolution is a lie.

Both forms of creationism deny that scientific principles like natural selection and abiogenesis could explain the origins of life on Earth. They argue that evolution isn't possible because it requires a miracle, and that the scientists who founded modern science rejected miracles out of fear that they would lose credibility.

Some creationists believe in both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and call their belief "theistic evolution." This is sometimes also referred to as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the created species." In this view, God creates the original species and allows them to evolve over time. These evolutionary changes will eventually produce new species that are similar to the original.

Others believe that God created the universe and all living things during a single event, referred to as the Great Flood. Creationists believe that all the species of the beginning were created at the same moment and that they gradually evolved. They also reject the concept of abiogenesis and argue that the emergence of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is unattainable.

In general, creationists are against teaching evolution in schools. This is supported by a variety of professional organizations, including the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education as well as the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. However, some scientists and educational institutions are more flexible and allow for the inclusion of creationism and evolution in their curriculum.

What exactly is Creationism in Korea?

When people think about creationism, they often think of the United States. However, South Korea is also home to an anti-evolution movement. Publishers of high-school textbooks announced recently that they would remove references to evolution from their books. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent body which is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR), has led this effort. The STR has won its first victory by removing from textbooks the evidence of the evolution and ancestor of the avian, the Archeopteryx. The next goal is to remove the finch-research of Darwin's famed and also on human evolution.

STR claims to have the support of 4,000 families and individuals. Its mission is to cut out what it believes is the "atheist materialism" that reflects a hopeless worldview for students. It also aims at countering the influence of American Creationists in the nation. A survey of undergraduates studying biology revealed that a majority of them didn't believe in evolution. The reasons aren't certain, but could be related to religious beliefs or the absence of creation scientists in the US.

The KACR achieved many things through its lectures and seminars in the past. It has a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. The most notable of these is a text on the natural sciences, with an evolutionary perspective that attracted the attention of college communities. In 1991, a professor, along with a minister began teaching Creation Science at one university. It is still taught today.

On August 6-7 1993, KACR hosted a second International Symposium on Creation Research. This 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, spoke to thousands of people. KACR and its members have given talks on creation science at major seminaries too. KACR plans to create a Creation Science Education Center in the future.