Is Evolution Korea Just As Important As Everyone Says?
Is Evolution Korea Just As Important As Everyone Says?
Blog Article
Evolution Korea
For a long time the Korean scientific community avoided engaging with creationists for fear of giving the movement more credence. The silence is no longer an option.
The STR has been fighting to get evolution-related content from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestor bird. However, this is just one aspect of the development paradigm's evolution.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a concept in science that explains changes in genetic characteristics over time. The theory is based on the fact that living things adapt to their environments and this can lead to changes in genes or even complete genomes. Over time, these changes can result in the creation of new species. Natural selection is the dominant theory of evolution. It explains how people with traits that are advantageous survive and reproduce more than those with less advantageous traits. This variation in reproduction could, over time, lead to the creation and evolution of new species.
The term "evolution" originates from the Latin word"evolution" which means unrolling or revealing, but the concept itself has a myriad of meanings since it took shape in the sciences and in other fields. Early evolutionists like Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predetermined to change into a new species. Etienne Geoffroy St.Hilaire was Lamarck's embryologist pupil who invented the term "transmutation" to describe this theory. 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 through which living organisms develop traits that increase their chances of survival or producing offspring. Over time, genetic variability can cause a population to acquire new physical traits or biological functions. The change in gene frequencies is known as natural selection and it is the main driver of evolutionary changes. However other changes that are not genetic, such as increases in the muscle mass as a result of diet or exercise can't be considered to be examples of evolution since they are not passed on to future generations.
Creationists make the argument that evolution is controversial, despite the fact that it has been proven to be true by thousands of scientific tests and that it has stood the test of time. They claim that the theory should not be taught at school. In South Korea, creationists have won a few victories in their fight to remove evolution from textbooks for high school which includes the removal of any mention of the evolutionary roots of humans and the Archaeopteryx, a feathered dinosaur believed to be the ancestral bird's ancestor.
Why is Evolution Important to Humanity?
Evolution explains how the Earth and all its living species evolved. It is also a fundamental part of biology and helps scientists to learn how living organisms function and develop. Evolution also shows how different species are linked. Scientists study evolution to understand the natural world, and also to make important discoveries including the development of new medicines.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that can explain so many aspects of the universe and life on this planet, and it has been rigorously tested and verified over many years. Many people, including religious leaders, are in favor of the scientific theory of evolution. It is important to note that evolutionary biology doesn't contradict religious beliefs, as the theory deals only with things, events and processes in the physical world.
Many religious people have found a way to reconcile evolution with their convictions. Some Christians, for example, believe that God created everything through evolution and that humans share a common ancestry to other animals.
It is crucial for scientists to support the teaching of evolution. In some countries, anti-evolution sentiment has been rising. In the United States, efforts to limit the teaching of evolution have made progress in a few states. In South Korea, a group known as the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) which is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research is urging the elimination of textbook content about the evolution of horses as well as the avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
While these are disturbing changes, it's important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution comes from many sources, including fossils, genetics, and even the behavior of living creatures. Other scientists independently confirm the evidence.
The majority of scientists agree with the theory of evolution. This belief is based on various reasons. Some scientists study evolution to discover practical solutions for example, such as the development of treatments or developing new medicines, while others are driven by an interest in improving the quality of life for animals and plant species, typically for the benefit of humans. Some scientists are just curious, while others have a strong religious belief in God.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are those who believe that God created the universe and everything in it. They also believe that the Bible is God's word and should be believed to be true. Although some creationists are not Christian, they are a majority. Creationists typically fall into one of 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 world in the exact way described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of the creation's six days is true, and that the universe and life on Earth began only recently.
OECs are less well known However, they are as committed to their beliefs as YECs. OECs believe that here the universe and life on Earth are billions of years old and they believe 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 isn't possible because it requires the creation of a miracle, and the pioneers of modern science rejected miracles out of fear that they would lose credibility.
Some creationists accept naturalistic evolution and also special creation, and call their view “theistic evolution." It is sometimes referred to as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the original species." The theory says that God creates species from scratch and allows them to evolve over time. These evolutionary changes eventually will result in new species similar to the original.
Some creationists believe that God created all living things and the universe in one event known as the Great Flood. These creationists believe that the first species were all created simultaneously, and that they grew gradually afterward. They also reject the concept of abiogenesis and argue that the emergence of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is impossible.
In general, creationists are against teaching evolution in schools. This is a position that is backed by a myriad of professional associations such as the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education and the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. However, certain scientists and educational institutions are more flexible, and allow for the inclusion of both evolution and creationism in their curriculum.
What is Creationism?
When people think of the concept of creationism, they often think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolution group. The publishers of textbooks for high school students have recently announced that they will eliminate references to evolution from their books. A group called the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) is an independent organization that is an offshoot of the Korea Association for Creation Research which is the driving force behind the campaign. STR has won its first victory in removing examples of the evolution of the horse as well as an avian ancestor called the Archeopteryx, from textbooks. Its sights are now set on the removal of excerpts from Darwin's notorious finch research and on human evolution too.
STR claims to have the support of around 4,000 families and individuals. Its goal is to weed 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 across the country. A survey of the newest biology teachers revealed that around half do not believe in the concept of evolution. The causes aren't clear, but may include religious beliefs and the lack of full-time creation scientists across the United States.
The KACR has achieved a number of things through its lectures and seminar events. It publishes a bimonthly magazine called Creation and a book. One of these was an educational textbook on natural sciences with a creationist stance. This led to an interest among college communities. In 1991, a professor and minister began 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. The event was held in conjunction with the opening of the World Expo in Daejeon. Six lecturers from around the world including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of several thousand. KACR and its members have given lectures on creation science in major seminaries too. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.