In the past the Korean scientific community avoided engaging with creationists for fear of giving the movement more credibility. The silence is no longer a viable option.
The STR has been campaigning to get rid of textbooks that discuss evolution, such as the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an ancestral bird's ancestor. But this is merely one aspect of the development paradigm's evolution.
What is Evolution?
The theory of evolution is a scientific one that explains the change in genetic characteristics of living organisms over time. The theory is based on the fact that living organisms adjust to their environment, which can result in changes to genes or even whole genomes. These changes can, over generations lead to the emergence of new species. The most popular theory of evolution is known as natural selection, which describes the process by which those with favorable characteristics live and reproduce more often than those with disadvantages. This differing reproduction may eventually lead to the emergence and evolution of new species.
The word "evolution" is derived from the Latin word"evolution" which means unrolling or revealing. However, the concept itself has a myriad of meanings since it took form in the fields of science and other fields. Early evolutionists, such as Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that the existing species changed into other species in a planned manner. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire, Lamarck's embryologist student who came up with the term "transmutation" to describe this theory. 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 organisms develop traits that enhance their chances of survival or the ability to reproduce offspring. As time passes the genetic variability could cause the emergence of entirely new physical or biological traits in the same population. Natural selection is the main force behind the most evolutionary changes. Non-genetic changes, such as an increase in muscle mass from exercise or diet, cannot be considered to be evolutionary 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 idea that evolution is controversial to argue that it should not be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists have had a few wins in their campaign to exclude evolution from high school textbooks, including the removal of any mention of the evolutionary origins of humans as well as the Archaeopteryx feathered dinosaur believed to be the ancestor of birds.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains how the Earth and all its living species came to be. It is also a fundamental part of biology that helps scientists to understand how living organisms work and develop. Evolution also shows how different species are connected. Scientists study evolution in order to better comprehend nature and make important discoveries, such as the development of new medicines.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. No other scientific theory explains more about the universe and life on earth. It has been thoroughly scrutinized and confirmed for a number of years. Many people, including religious leaders, believe in the theory of evolution as a scientific fact. It is crucial to keep in mind that evolutionary biology isn't in conflict with religious beliefs as 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 example, some Christians believe that God created the universe through evolution and that humans have an ancestral connection with other animals.
It is essential for science educators to support the teaching of evolution. In some countries, the opposition to evolution has been growing. In the United States, efforts to restrict the teaching of evolution have made some progress in some states. In South Korea, a group known as the Society for Textbook Revise (STR), an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research is pushing for the removal of textbooks about the evolution of horses as well as the bird ancestor Archaeopteryx.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the evidence in support of evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a diverse variety of sources, including fossils, genetic studies, and the behavior of living organisms. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.
The majority of scientists supports the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this belief are diverse. Certain scientists study evolution in order to discover practical solutions that can lead to the development of new medicines or developing new medicines, while others are driven by the desire to improve the lives of animals and plant species, generally to benefit humans. Some scientists are simply curious, while others have an intense faith in God.
What is Creationism?
Creationists believe that God created everything in the universe. They also believe that the Bible is God's word and should be believed to be true. Many creationists are Christians however, not all. Creationists generally fall in one of two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The YECs are the best known type of creationist, and they believe that God created the world exactly as 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 were created only recently.
OECs are less well known However, they are as committed to their beliefs as YECs. OECs believe the universe and Earth are billions of years old and that evolution is a lie.
Both types of creationism reject the notion that scientific theories such as natural selection and abiogenesis can explain the origin of life on Earth. They claim that evolution is not possible because it requires an extraordinary event, and that the pioneers of modern science rejected miracles out of fear of losing credibility.
Some creationists believe in both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and refer to their belief "theistic evolution." This is sometimes referred to as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from created kinds." In this theory, God creates the original species, and then allows them to evolve over time. These evolutionary changes will eventually produce new species similar to the original.
Some creationists believe that God created all living things and the entire universe in one event known as the Great Flood. These creationists hold that all the original species were created at the same time and that they gradually evolved. They deny the notion of abiogenesis and assert that self-replicating life can't come 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 endorse 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 incorporated into their curricula.
What is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of creationism most often, they think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolution group. Publishers of high school textbooks have recently announced that they will eliminate references to evolution from their books. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent body that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR), has led this drive. STR has secured its first victory by removing instances of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor called the Archeopteryx in textbooks. Its next target is to eliminate excerpts from Darwin’s infamous finch-research and also on human evolution.
STR claims to have the support of 4,000 families and members. Its aim is to root out what it regards as the "atheist materialism" that paints an unhopeful worldview for students. It also aims at countering the influence of American Creationists in the United States. A survey of trainees in biology revealed that a majority of them didn't believe in evolution. The reasons for this are not clear, but may include religious beliefs and the lack of full-time creation scientists in the country.
The KACR has achieved a lot through its seminars and lectures 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 that has a creationist viewpoint, which attracted the attention of college communities. In 1991 the year 1991, a minister and professor began teaching Creation Science in one university, and it is taught to this day.
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 around the world including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of over a thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given lectures on the subject of creation science at major seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center.