Evolution Korea
Until recently, Korea's scientific community has been hesitant to engage with creationists, afraid that doing so might increase the credibility of the movement. The silence is no longer an alternative.
The STR has been fighting to get information about evolution from textbooks including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestral bird. This is only one example of how the concept of development has evolved.
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 adjust to their environment, which can lead to variations in genes or even whole genomes. These changes can over many generations lead to the creation of new species. Natural selection is the dominant theory of evolution. It describes how individuals with advantageous traits can reproduce faster and longer than those with less advantageous traits. In time, this disparity in reproduction could result in the creation of completely new species.
The word "evolution" is derived from the Latin word for unrolling or revealing. However, the concept itself has a myriad of meanings as it has taken shape in the sciences and other fields. 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 pupil who coined the term "transmutation" to describe this view. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, attacked the idea of evolution, and borrowed the term from Geoffroy's student.
Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process in which living organisms develop traits to increase their chances of surviving or producing offspring. As time passes the genetic variability could result in the development of entirely new biological functions or physical traits in the same population. This shift in gene frequency is known as natural selection and it drives most evolutionary changes. Non-genetic changes, such as an increase in muscle mass due to exercise or diet, can't be considered to be evolutionary because they aren't passed down to future generations.
Creationists make the argument that evolution is controversial, even though it has been proven valid by a multitude of scientific tests and that it has been tested over time. They argue that the theory shouldn't be taught at school. In South Korea, creationists won some victories against evolution in textbooks for high schools. This includes the removal of all references to the evolutionary roots of humans as well as Archaeopteryx which is a feathered dinosaur that is believed to be the ancestral bird's first ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important to Humanity?
Evolution explains how Earth and all its living creatures came into existence. It is one of the fundamentals of biology, and helps scientists discover how living things operate and grow. Evolution also demonstrates how different species are linked. Scientists study evolution to understand the natural world, and to make useful discoveries including the development of new drugs.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains as much about the universe and the life on earth. It has been rigorously 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 note that evolutionary biology doesn't contradict religious beliefs, as the theory deals only with processes, objects, and events within the physical world.
Many religious people have discovered a way to reconcile evolution with their convictions. For instance, some Christians believe that God created the universe through evolution and that humans have an ancestry with other animals.
It is essential that science educators stand up for the teaching evolution. In some countries, the opposition to evolution has been growing. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit the teaching evolution. In South Korea, a group known as the Society for Textbook Revise, an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC) is pushing for textbooks to include content on the evolution of horses and their ancestral avian species Archaeopteryx.
It is vital to remember that the evidence in support of evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution is based on a variety of sources, including fossils, genetics, and even the behavior of living creatures. Other scientists independently verify the evidence.
The vast majority of scientists agree with the theory of evolution. The reasons for this support are diverse. Scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries such as developing new medicines and other treatments, while others use it to improve the quality of animal website and plant species, usually for the benefit of humans. Some are simply curious, while others have a profound religious belief in God and seek to understand how the universe works.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are people 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 as such. Many creationists are Christians however, not all. Creationists generally fall in two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The YECs are perhaps the most well known type of creationist and they believe that God created the universe exactly as described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of the six days of creation was true and that the universe as well as life on Earth were created only recently.
OECs are less well known, but they are as passionate about their beliefs as YECs. OECs believe that the universe and all life on Earth are billions of years old, and that evolution is an untruth.
Both kinds of creationism deny that scientific principles such as biogenesis and natural selection could explain how life started on Earth. They claim that evolution is inconceivable because it requires miracles. The pioneers of modern scientific thought resisted miracles out of fear they could lose their credibility.
Some creationists believe in naturalistic evolution and special creation, and call their view “theistic evolution.†It is sometimes referred to as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the original species." The theory suggests that God creates original species and allows them to evolve over time. Eventually, these evolutionary changes will result in new species similar to the original ones.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things in a single event, known as the Great Flood. Creationists believe that all species were created at the same time and then gradually evolved. They also deny the notion of abiogenesis, and argue that the creation of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is impossible.
In general, creationists are opposed to the teaching of evolution in schools. This is a position that is backed by a variety of professional organizations which include the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education and the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. Certain scientists and educational institutions are, however, more flexible and permit both creationism and evolution to be incorporated into their curriculum.
What is Creationism?
When people think of the concept of creationism, many of them think of the United States. However, South Korea is also the home of an anti-evolutionist movement. Publishers of high-school textbooks announced recently that they will remove references to evolution from their textbooks. A group known as 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. STR has won its first victory by removing 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 notorious finch research and on human evolution too.
STR claims that it has the support of around 4000 families and individuals. The goal, according to STR, is to rid the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" which portrays an image of students as being negative. It also aims at countering the influence of American Creationists in the nation. A survey of trainees in biology found that half didn't believe in evolution. The causes are not certain, but could be related to religious beliefs or the lack of 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 is a textbook on the natural sciences that has an evolutionary perspective that sparked interest in college communities. In 1991 the year 1991, a minister and professor started teaching Creation Science in one university and it continues to be taught until 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 abroad, including ICR's John Morris and Steven Austin, spoke to a crowd of more than a thousand. KACR and its members have given lectures on creation science in major seminaries, too. KACR intends to establish a Creation Science Education Center.