Evolution Korea
Up until recently the Korean scientific community was hesitant about engaging with creationists for fear of giving the movement more credibility. Silence is no longer a viable option.
에볼루션 블랙잭 has been fighting to get evolution-related content from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestor bird. But this is merely one aspect of the evolution of the developmental paradigm.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a theory of science that explains changes in genetic characteristics over time. The theory is based upon the fact that living organisms adapt to their environment, which may result in changes to genes or whole genomes. Over 에볼루션 블랙잭 of many generations these changes could result in the creation of new species. The prevailing theory of evolution is called natural selection, which explains the process by which individuals with advantageous characteristics survive and reproduce more frequently than those with disadvantageous characteristics. Over time, this differential reproduction could result in the creation of completely new species.
The word "evolution", which comes from the Latin for revealing or unrolling, has been used in a variety of different ways as the concept has developed, both in science and in other fields. Early evolutionists like Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predestined to change into another species. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire was Lamarck's embryologist disciple who came up with the term "transmutation" to describe this theory. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, criticized the concept of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy’s student.
Recently, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process when living things develop characteristics that improve their chances of survival or ability to produce offspring. In time this genetic variation can result in the development of entirely new physical or biological traits in the same population. The variation in gene frequencies is known as natural selection and is the primary driver behind evolutionary change. Other changes that aren't genetic, such as an increase in muscle mass due to exercise or diet, can't be considered to be evolution since they aren't passed on to the next generation.
Creationists are using the argument that evolution is controversial, despite the fact that it has been proven to be valid by a multitude of scientific tests and it has stood the test of time. They claim that the theory should not be taught at school. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories over evolution in high school textbooks. This includes the removal of references about the evolutionary origins for humans as well as Archaeopteryx - a feathered dinosaur that is believed to be the ancestral bird's first ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important for Humanity?
Evolution explains the origins and evolution of Earth and all living species. It is one of the fundamentals of biology and helps scientists to understand how living things function and develop. Evolution also shows how different species are linked. Scientists study evolution to gain a better understanding of the natural world and to discover useful information like the development of new medicines.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. No other scientific theory explains more about the universe and the life on earth. It has been thoroughly examined and confirmed for many years. Many people, even some religious leaders, are in support of the scientific theory. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology does not contradict religious beliefs because it only deals with physical objects, events and processes.
Many religious people have come up with a way of reconciling evolution with their beliefs. For instance some Christians believe that God created the universe through evolution and that humans have an ancestral lineage with other animals.
It is crucial that scientists and educators speak out for the teaching evolution. Unfortunately, in some nations around the world, anti-evolution sentiment is growing. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit the teaching of evolution. In South Korea, a group called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) which is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research, is campaigning for the removal of textbook content about the evolution of horses and the avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
Although these are alarming developments, it is important to keep in mind that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a wide 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. This support is based on a variety of reasons. Certain scientists study evolution in order to make practical discoveries, such as developing medications or developing new medicines, while others are driven by the desire to improve the lives of animals and plant species, usually for the benefit of humans. Some scientists are simply curious, while others have an intense faith in God.
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 seriously. Although Creationists may not all be Christian but many are. Creationists are typically divided into two categories: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
YECs are the most well known type of creationist, and they believe that God created the world in the exact way described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of six days of creation was true and that the universe as well as life on Earth were created just recently.
OECs might not be as well-known, but their beliefs are just as intense like those of YECs. OECs believe that the universe and all life on Earth are billions of years old and that evolution is a myth.
Both kinds of creationism deny that scientific principles such as biogenesis and natural selection can explain how life started on Earth. They claim that evolution is not possible because it would require the creation of a miracle, and the scientists who founded modern science eschewed miracles for fear of losing credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolution and special creation, and refer to their belief as "theistic evolution." This is sometimes referred to as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the original species." The theory suggests that God creates original species and then allows these to change over time. These evolutionary changes will eventually produce new species that are similar to the original.
Other creationists hold that God created the universe and all living things during a single event, known as the Great Flood. These creationists hold that all the species of the beginning were created at the same time and then slowly evolved. They reject the idea of abiogenesis, and argue that self-replicating living cannot come from non-living matter.
In general, creationists are against teaching evolution in schools. Numerous professional organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association and the Association for Science Teacher Education endorse this view and so do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. However, some researchers and educational institutions are more flexible, and permit the inclusion of creationism and evolution in their curriculum.
What is Creationism?
When people think about the concept of creationism, a lot think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolutionist group. The publishers of high school textbooks have recently announced that they will eliminate references to evolution from their textbooks. A group called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR), an independent body that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research which is the driving force behind the campaign. The STR has scored its first victory by removing from textbooks evidence of the evolution and ancestor of the bird, the Archeopteryx. It is now focusing on the removal of excerpts from Darwin's notorious finch research and on human evolution as well.
STR claims that it has the support of 4,000 families and individual members. Its aim is to root out what it sees as the "atheist materialism" that paints an unhopeful worldview for students. It also seeks to counter the influence of American creationists in the country. A survey of trainees in biology revealed that a majority of them did not believe in evolution. The root causes are unclear but could be due to religious beliefs or the absence of full-time creation scientists across the country.
The KACR has achieved many things through its seminars and lectures. It publishes a bimonthly journal called Creation and a book. One of them was an educational textbook on natural sciences with a cosmological perspective. This led to an interest in 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 and 7, 1993, KACR hosted a second International Symposium on Creation Research. It was held in conjunction with the opening of the World Expo in Daejeon. Six lecturers from abroad including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of several thousand. KACR and its members have been delivering lectures on creation science in major seminaries too. KACR plans to create a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.