7 Things You've Never Known About Evolution Korea
7 Things You've Never Known About Evolution Korea
Blog Article
Evolution Korea
In the past, Korea's scientific community has refrained from engaging with the creationists, fearing that doing so might give the movement more credibility. The silence is no longer a viable option.
The STR has been fighting to get the content on evolution from textbooks, including the discovery that the feathered Archaeopteryx was an ancestral bird. This is just one aspect of how the concept of development has changed.
What is Evolution?
The theory of evolution is a scientific one that explains the changes in the genetic traits of living organisms over time. The theory is based on fact that living organisms adapt to their surroundings and this can lead to changes in genes or even whole genomes. Over time the changes could lead to the emergence new species. Natural selection is the most popular theory of evolution. It explains how individuals with traits that are advantageous are more likely to reproduce and survive than those with disadvantageous ones. Over time, this differential reproduction may lead to the emergence of entirely new species.
The term "evolution" originates from the Latin word"evolution" which means unraveling or revealing, however the concept itself has a myriad of meanings as it has taken shape in the sciences and other fields. Early evolutionists such as Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predestined to change into another species. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire, Lamarck's embryologist pupil who invented the term "transmutation" to describe this theory. Charles Lyell, who published the second volume of his Principles of Geology in 1833, attacked this idea and borrowed the term "evolution" from Geoffroy's student to describe the idea that existing species evolve into different species in a gradual and predictable way.
In recent years evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process when living things develop characteristics that increase their chances of survival or ability to produce offspring. In time the genetic variability could lead to the emergence of completely new physical or biological functions in the same population. Natural selection is the process that drives 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 future generations.
Creationists are using the argument that evolution is controversial even though it has been proven true by thousands of scientific tests and it has stood the test of time. They argue that the theory should not be taught at school. In South Korea, creationists won some victories against evolution in high school textbooks. This includes the removal of references about the evolutionary origins for humans and Archaeopteryx - a feathered dino that is believed to be the bird's ancestor.
Why is Evolution important to humanity?
Evolution explains the origins of Earth and all living species. It is also a foundation of biology and helps scientists understand how living organisms work and grow. Evolution also shows the connections between different species. Scientists study evolution in order to better comprehend nature and make valuable discoveries like 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 Earth and has been rigorously tested and confirmed over the course of many years. Many people, including some religious leaders, are in favor of the theory of evolution as a scientific fact. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology doesn't conflict with religious beliefs, as the theory only deals with processes, objects, and events within the physical world.
Many religious people have found a way to reconcile evolution with their convictions. For instance certain Christians believe that God created the universe through evolution and that humans have an ancestral lineage with other animals.
It is important for scientists to advocate for the teaching of evolution. In some countries around the world the anti-evolution movement is growing. In the United States, efforts to limit the teaching of evolution have made headway 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 pushing for textbooks that cover the evolutionary history of horses and their Avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.
While these are disturbing developments, it is important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence comes from a wide variety of sources, including fossils, genetic studies and the behavior of living organisms. Other scientists independently confirm the evidence.
The majority of scientists agree with the theory of evolution. The reasons behind this belief are diverse. Some scientists study evolution in order to make practical discoveries, such as developing new medicines or enhancing existing ones. Others do this to improve the lives of animals and plant species, mostly to benefit humans. Some scientists are simply curious, whereas 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 not all creationists are Christian but many are. Creationists typically fall into one of two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The most popular type of creationist is known as the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in the exact way described in the Bible. YECs believe that the biblical account of the creation's six days is true and that the universe and the life on Earth started only recently.
OECs are not as well-known, but they are as enthusiastic about their beliefs as YECs. OECs believe the universe and Earth are billions-of-years old and that evolution is a lie.
Both forms of creationism reject the notion that scientific principles like natural selection and abiogenesis could explain the origins of life on Earth. They claim that evolution is not possible because it would require an extraordinary event, and that the founders of modern science shied away from miracles due to fear that they would lose credibility.
Some creationists believe in both naturalistic evolution and special creation, and refer to their view "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 change over time. These evolutionary changes eventually will result in new species that are similar to the original.
Other creationists believe that God created the universe and all living things in one event, referred to as the Great Flood. Creationists believe that the first species were all created at the same time, and that they developed slowly afterwards. They also deny the notion of abiogenesis, and argue that the emergence of self-replicating organisms from nonliving matter is not possible.
In general, the creationists oppose teaching evolution at schools. This is supported by numerous professional organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Science Teacher Education as well as the American Anthropological Association, and the Geological Society of America. However, some scientists and educational institutions are more flexible and allow the inclusion of creationism and evolution in their curriculum.
What is Creationism?
When people think of creationism most often, they think of the United States. However, South Korea is also the home of an anti-evolutionist movement. The publishers of high school textbooks have recently declared that they will be removing references more info to evolution from their books. A group dubbed the Society for Textbook Revise (STR) is an unofficial 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 examples of the evolution and ancestor of an avian, the Archeopteryx. Its next target is to eliminate excerpts from Darwin’s infamous 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 rid the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" which portrays an unflattering image for students. It also hopes to combat the influence of American creationists who live in the US. A survey of undergraduates studying biology found that half didn't believe in evolution. The root causes are unclear but could be due to religion and the absence of full-time creation scientists in the country.
The KACR accomplished a number of things through its lectures and seminars in the past. It publishes a bimonthly journal called Creation and an ebook. One of them was a textbook on natural sciences with a cosmological perspective. This led to an interest among college communities. In 1991 an academic and minister began teaching Creation Science in one university, and it continues to be 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 and its members have been delivering talks on creation science at major seminaries, too. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.