In the past the Korean scientific community was hesitant about engaging with the creationists out of fear of giving the movement more credence. However, silence is no any longer an option.
The STR has been fighting to eliminate evolution-related content from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestor bird. But this is merely one aspect of the development paradigm's evolution.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is a concept in science that explains the evolution of genetic characteristics over time. The theory is based upon the fact that living organisms adjust to their environment, which could result in changes to genes or entire genomes. Over the course of many generations the changes could result in the emergence of new species. The most popular theory of evolution is called natural selection, which describes the process that allows those with favorable characteristics live and reproduce more often than those with disadvantages. In time, this disparity in reproduction could lead to the development of completely new species.
The word "evolution" comes from the Latin word"evolution" which means unraveling or revealing, however the concept itself has a myriad of meanings over the years as it has taken shape in the sciences and in other fields. Early evolutionists such as Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predestined to evolve into a different species. The term transmutation was coined by Lamarck's student, embryologist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, to describe this notion. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, criticized the concept of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy’s student.
Evolutionary biologists define it more recently as a process through which living things develop characteristics to increase their chances of survival or producing offspring. Over time, genetic variability can lead a population to develop new physical traits or biological functions. Natural selection is the mechanism that triggers most evolutionary changes. Changes that are not genetic, like an increase in muscle mass due to exercise or diet, can't be considered evolution because they aren't passed on to the next generation.
Creationists make the argument that evolution is controversial in spite of 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 argue that the concept should not be taught in schools. In South Korea, creationists have gained a few victories in their campaign to exclude evolution from high school textbooks, including the removal of any references to the evolutionary origins of humans as well as the Archaeopteryx, a feathered dinosaur believed to be the ancestral bird's parent.
Why is Evolution Important?
Evolution explains how Earth and all living species evolved. It is also a foundation of biology, and aids scientists to learn how living organisms 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, such as developing new drugs.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. There is no other scientific theory that can explain so many aspects of the universe and life on earth and has been rigorously tested and confirmed over many years. Many people, including some religious leaders, support the scientific theory of evolution. It is important to understand that evolutionary biology doesn't interfere with religious beliefs, since the theory is based on things, events and processes in the physical world.
Many religious people have discovered a way to reconcile evolution with their beliefs. Certain Christians for instance believe that God created everything through evolution, and that humans share an ancestral connection to other animals.
It is essential that science educators advocate for teaching evolution. In some countries, anti-evolution sentiment is growing. In the United States, efforts to limit the teaching of evolution have made some progress in a few states. 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 textbook content on the evolution of horses and their avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
While these are troubling developments, it is important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution is based on a variety of sources, including fossils, genetics and the behavior of living creatures. Other scientists independently confirm the evidence.
The vast majority of scientists agree with the theory of evolution. The reason for this is various reasons. Certain scientists study evolution in order to discover practical solutions for example, such as the development of treatments, while others are motivated by a desire to improve animal and plant species, generally for the benefit of humans. Some are simply curious, whereas others have a profound religious belief in God and want to know how the universe works.
What is Creationism?
Creationists believe that God created everything in the universe. They also believe that the Bible is the word of God and should be taken literally. While some creationists are not Christian however, they are a majority. Creationists generally fall in two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
YECs are the most well known form of creationist, and they believe that God created the world exactly as described in the Bible. YECs hold that the biblical account of the six days of creation was literal and that the universe and the life on Earth were created only recently.
OECs aren't as well-known However, their beliefs are as passionate like the YECs. OECs believe that the universe and Earth are billions of years old and believe that evolution is a myth.
Both forms of creationism deny that scientific principles such as natural selection and abiogenesis are able to explain the origins of life on Earth. They argue that evolution is inconceivable because it requires miracles. The founders of modern scientific thought resisted miracles out of fear they would lose their credibility.
Some creationists believe in naturalistic evolution and also special creation and call their view "theistic evolution." This is also known as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of species created." In this belief system, God creates the original species and then 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 called the Great Flood. These creationists believe that the original species were created simultaneously, and that they evolved gradually afterward. They reject the concept of abiogenesis and claim that self-replicating life can't come from non-living matter.
In general, the creationists oppose teaching evolution in 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, however, are more flexible and allow both creationism and evolution to be incorporated into 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 recently announced that they would eliminate the mention of evolution in 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 which is the driving force behind the campaign. The STR has achieved its first victory by removing from textbooks evidence of the evolution and ancestor of the avian, the Archeopteryx. The next goal is to remove the finch-research of Darwin's famed as well as on human evolution.
STR claims that it has the backing of 4,000 families as well as individual members. 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 in the United States. A survey of biology students teachers revealed that a majority do not believe in the concept of evolution. The reasons for this aren't entirely clear, but could include religious beliefs or the lack of creation scientists in the United States.
The KACR has achieved a lot through its seminars and lectures in the past. It publishes a bimonthly magazine, Creation, and has published books. Among these is a textbook on the natural sciences that has an orthodox creationist perspective, which attracted the attention of college communities. In 1991, a professor together 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. The event was held in conjunction with the opening of the World Expo in Daejeon. Six lecturers from the world, including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish, and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of over a thousand. KACR and its members have given lectures on creation science at major seminaries as well. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center in the future.