Is Evolution Korea As Important As Everyone Says?
Is Evolution Korea As Important As Everyone Says?
Blog Article
Evolution Korea
For a long time, the Korean scientific community was hesitant about engaging with the creationists out of fear of giving the movement more credence. However, silence is no anymore an option.
The STR has been fighting to eliminate the content on evolution from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestor bird. This is only one example of the way in which the development paradigm has changed.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a concept in science that explains changes in 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 generations result in the development of new species. Natural selection is the dominant theory of evolution. It explains how individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more than those with less favorable traits. In time, this disparity in reproduction may lead to the emergence of entirely new species.
The word "evolution" comes from the Latin word meaning unraveling or revealing, however the concept itself has a myriad of meanings as it has taken form in the fields of science and elsewhere. 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. The term transmutation was coined by the Lamarck's disciple embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, to describe this view. 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 notion that existing species evolve into different species in a gradual and predictable manner.
In recent years evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process when living things develop characteristics that enhance their chances of survival or ability to reproduce offspring. As time passes, this genetic variability can cause the emergence of completely new physical or biological functions in a population. Natural selection is the main force behind the most evolutionary changes. Changes that are not genetic, like an increase in muscle mass through exercise or diet, can't be considered evolution because they aren't passed on to future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has stood the test of time and a multitude of scientific tests Creationists have taken advantage of the notion that the theory is controversial to argue that it should not be taught in school. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories over evolution in textbooks for high school. This includes the removal of references about the evolutionary history of humans and Archaeopteryx - a feathered dino that is believed to be the ancestral bird's first ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains how the Earth and all its living species came to be. It also serves as a basis of biology, and aids scientists to comprehend how living organisms operate and develop. Evolution also shows how various species are interconnected. Scientists study evolution to better comprehend nature and make valuable discoveries like new medicines.
The evidence for evolution of biological species is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that explains so many aspects of the universe and life on Earth, and it has been thoroughly tested and confirmed over the course of many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory. It is important to understand that evolutionary biology does not interfere with religious beliefs, as the theory only deals with objects, events and processes in the physical world.
In reality many religious individuals have found ways to reconcile their beliefs with evolution. 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 for science educators to stand up for the teaching of evolution. In certain countries, the anti-evolution movement has been growing. In the United States some states have taken steps to limit the 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 campaigning for textbooks to include content on the evolutionary history of horses and their Avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
Although these are alarming developments, it is important to remember that the evidence for evolution get more info is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution comes from a variety of sources, such as fossils, genetics, and even the behavior of living creatures. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The vast majority of scientists agree with the theory of evolution. This belief is based on a variety of reasons. Scientists study evolution to make practical discoveries for example, such as the development of medicines, while others are motivated by the desire to improve the lives of animals and plant species, usually to benefit humans. Some scientists are just curious, whereas others have an intense faith in God.
What is Creationism?
Creationists believe that God created all things in the universe. They also believe that the Bible is God's word and should be believed to be true. Many creationists are Christians, but not all. Creationists are typically divided into two groups: Young Earth Creationists (YEC) or old earth creationists.
YECs are the most well known form of creationist, and they believe that God created the universe exactly as 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 was created only recently.
OECs might not be as popular, but their beliefs are just as passionate 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 forms of creationism reject the notion that scientific principles such as natural selection and abiogenesis are able to explain the origins of life on Earth. They argue that evolution isn't possible because it requires a miracle, and that the pioneers of modern science eschewed miracles for fear that they would lose credibility.
Some creationists are able to accept both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and refer to their belief "theistic evolution." This is also referred to as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of the created species." In this view, God creates the original species and then 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 in a single event, called the Great Flood. They believe that the first species were all created at the same time, and that they evolved gradually afterward. They deny the notion of abiogenesis, and argue that self-replicating life cannot arise from non-living matter.
In general, the creationists are against teaching evolution at schools. Numerous professional organizations, 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. Certain scientists and educational institutions are however more flexible and allow creationism and evolution to be included in their curriculum.
What is Creationism?
When people think of 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 announced recently that they would remove the mention of evolution in their textbooks. A group dubbed the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) is an unofficial body that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research, has led the drive. The STR has achieved its first victory by removing from textbooks the evidence of the evolution and ancestor of an avian, called the Archeopteryx. The next goal is to take out portions of Darwin's notorious finch-research and also on human evolution.
STR claims to have the backing of 4,000 families as well as individual members. Its goal, it says is to cleanse the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" which portrays an image of students as being negative. It also hopes to combat the influence of American creationists who live in the US. A survey of biology students teachers revealed that a majority do not believe in the concept of evolution. The reasons aren't clear, but could include religion or the absence of creation scientists in the country.
The KACR has achieved a lot through its seminars and lectures in the past. It publishes a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of these was a textbook on natural science that had a creationist perspective. This sparked an interest in college communities. In 1991 an academic and minister started teaching Creation Science in one university, and it is taught until 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 outside the country, including ICR's John Morris and Steven Austin addressed an audience of several thousand. KACR and its members have been delivering lectures on creation science at major seminaries too. KACR plans to create a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.