Why Evolution Korea Is Your Next Big Obsession
Why Evolution Korea Is Your Next Big Obsession
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Evolution Korea
For a long time the Korean scientific community was hesitant about engaging with creationists for fear of giving the movement more credibility. The silence is no longer an option.
The STR has been battling to get rid of textbooks that describe evolution, including 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 evolved.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a theory of science that explains the changes in genetic characteristics of living organisms over time. The theory is based upon the fact that living organisms adapt to their environment, which can result in variations in genes or whole genomes. These changes could over generations lead to the creation of new species. The prevailing theory of evolution is called natural selection, which describes the process by which those with favorable characteristics live and reproduce more frequently than those with disadvantages. This differential reproduction can eventually lead to the creation and evolution of new species.
The word "evolution" is derived from the Latin word meaning unrolling or revealing, but the concept has had a variety of meanings as it has taken form in the sciences and elsewhere. Some early evolutionists, including Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that existing species transformed into other species in a planned manner. The term"transmutation" was coined by 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 view that existing species evolve into different species in an orderly and predictable manner.
Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process by which living organisms develop traits to improve their chances of surviving or conceiving offspring. As time passes the genetic variability could result in the development of completely new biological functions or physical traits in the population. Such a shift in gene frequency is known as natural selection and it is the main driver of evolutionary changes. Non-genetic changes, such as an increase in muscle mass due to exercise or diet, can't be considered to be evolution since they aren't passed down to future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has stood the tests of time and thousands of scientific experiments Creationists have taken advantage of the idea that the theory is controversial and argue that it shouldn't be taught in school. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories over evolution in textbooks for high schools. This includes the removal of all references about the evolutionary history of humans as well as Archaeopteryx - a feathered dino believed to be the 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 to understand how living organisms work and develop. Evolution also demonstrates how different species are linked. Scientists study evolution in order to better understand nature and make useful discoveries, such as the development of new treatments.
The evidence for evolution of biological species is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that can explain so much about the universe and life on earth, and it has been thoroughly tested and confirmed over many years. Many people, and even religious leaders, are in support of the scientific theory. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology does not conflict with religious beliefs as it only addresses physical objects, events, and processes.
Many religious people have discovered a way to reconcile evolution with their beliefs. Certain Christians for instance, believe that God created everything through evolution and that humans have an ancestry that is shared with other animals.
It is essential for science educators to advocate for the teaching of evolution. In some countries around the world there is a growing anti-evolutionist sentiment. In the United States, efforts to restrict the teaching of evolution have made progress in some states. In South Korea, a group known as the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC), is campaigning for textbooks that cover 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 for evolution comes from many sources, such as fossils, genetics, and even the behavior of living creatures. Other scientists independently confirm the evidence.
The majority of scientists support the theory of evolution. The reasons for this support are diverse. Scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries, such as developing medicines and other treatments, while others are driven by the desire to improve the lives of animals and plant species, generally to benefit humans. Some are simply curious, whereas others have a profound faith in God and seek to know how the universe works.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are people who believe that God created the universe and everything within it. They also believe that the Bible is the word of God and should be taken literally. Many creationists are Christians however, not all. Creationists generally fall into two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The YECs are perhaps the most well 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 creation's six days is literal and that the universe and the life on Earth started only recently.
OECs may be less popular, but their beliefs are as fierce as the YECs. OECs believe that the universe and life on Earth are billions of years old, and that evolution is an untruth.
Both types of creationism reject the notion that scientific theories such as natural selection and abiogenesis could explain the origins of life on Earth. They claim that evolution is impossible because it requires a miracle, and that the founders of modern science eschewed miracles for fear of losing credibility.
Some creationists believe in both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and call their view "theistic evolution." This is also referred to as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of created kinds." In this theory, God creates the original species and allows them to evolve over time. In the end, these evolutionary changes will create new species that are similar to the original ones.
Others believe that God created the universe and all living things in 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 then slowly evolved. They deny the notion of abiogenesis, and argue that self-replicating life cannot arise from nonliving matter.
In general, the creationists oppose the 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 as do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. However, some academic institutions and scientists are more flexible, and allow for the inclusion of both evolution and creationism in their curriculum.
What exactly is Creationism in Korea?
When people think about the concept of creationism, a lot think of the United States. However, South Korea is also home to an anti-evolutionist movement. Publishers of high school textbooks 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 from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR), has led this campaign. STR has secured its first victory by eliminating instances of the evolution of the horse as well as an avian ancestor, called the Archeopteryx from textbooks. It is now focusing on the removal of excerpts from Darwin's infamous finch research and on human evolution too.
STR claims that it has the support of 4,000 families and 에볼루션사이트 members. The goal, according to STR is to cleanse the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" which paints a negative view for students. It also seeks to counter the influence of American creationists in the United States. A survey of students in biology revealed that a majority of them didn't believe in evolution. The root causes are unclear but could be due to religious beliefs and the lack of full-time creation scientists in the country.
The KACR has achieved a lot through its lectures and seminars in the past. It has a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of them was a textbook on natural science with a creationist stance. This led to an interest in college communities. In 1991, a professor together with a minister began teaching Creation Science at one university. It is still taught today.
On August 7 and 8 in 1993, the same day that 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, spoke to thousands of people. KACR members and KACR have also given lectures on creation science in prestigious seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center in the future.