Evolution Korea

Until recently the scientific community in Korea has refrained from engaging with the creationists in fear that doing so could increase the credibility of the movement. The silence is no longer an option.

The STR has been battling to eliminate content from textbooks that explain evolution, including the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an ancestor of birds. This is only one aspect of the evolution of the development paradigm.

What is Evolution?

The theory of evolution is a scientific one that explains the changes in the 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 whole genomes. These changes can, over generations lead to the emergence of new species. The prevailing theory of evolution is natural selection, which explains the process through which those with favorable characteristics live and reproduce more often than those with disadvantageous characteristics. In time, this disparity in reproduction could lead to the development of entirely 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 as it has taken form in the sciences and elsewhere. Some early evolutionists, like Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather), believed that existing species transformed into other species in a certain way. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire, Lamarck's embryologist student who came up with the term "transmutation" to describe this view. 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 change into different species in a gradual and predictable way.

In recent years, evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process that occurs when living creatures develop characteristics that increase their chances of survival, or their ability to reproduce offspring. In time the genetic variability could lead to the emergence of entirely new physical or biological traits in the population. Natural selection is the main force behind the majority of evolutionary changes. However other changes that are not genetic, such as the increase in muscle mass due to diet or exercise cannot be considered to be examples of evolution because they are not passed on to future generations.

Despite the fact that evolution has stood the test of time and a multitude of scientific studies however, creationists have taken advantage of the notion that the theory is controversial and argue that it shouldn't be taught in school. In South Korea, creationists have gained a few victories in their efforts to eliminate evolution from high-school textbooks which includes the removal of any references to the evolutionary roots of humans and the Archaeopteryx, a feathered dinosaur that is thought to be an ancestral bird's ancestor.

Why is Evolution Important?

Evolution explains how Earth and all its living creatures came into existence. It is one of the fundamentals of biology, and aids scientists to understand how living things function and develop. Evolution also shows how different species are interconnected. Scientists study evolution to understand the natural world and to make useful discoveries, such as developing new medicines.

The evidence for evolution of biological species 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 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 conflict with religions, since the theory deals only with processes, objects, and events within the physical world.

Many religious people have come up with a way of reconciling evolution with their convictions. For example certain Christians believe that God created the world through evolution, and that humans share an ancestry with other animals.

It is crucial that scientists and educators speak out for teaching evolution. In some countries, anti-evolution sentiment 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 of the Korea Association for Creation Research (KAC) is pushing for textbooks to include content on the evolution of horses and their avian ancestor Archaeopteryx.

While these are disturbing developments, it is also important to remember that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution comes from many sources, such as fossils, genetics, and even the behavior of living creatures. The evidence is also independently verified by other scientists.

The majority of scientists believe in the theory of evolution. The reasons for this support are diverse. Scientists study evolution in order to make practical discoveries, such as developing new drugs, while others do so to improve animal and plants species, usually for the benefit humans. Some are simply curious, and others have a deep faith in God and seek to understand how the universe works.

What is Creationism?

Creationists are those who believe that God created the universe and everything within it. They also believe the Bible is God's word and should be interpreted in a literal manner. Many creationists are Christians however, not all. Creationists generally fall in two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).

The most popular kind of creationist is called the YEC. They believe that God created the universe in the exact way that is described in the Bible. YECs hold that the biblical account of the six days of creation is literal and that the universe as well as life on Earth were created only recently.

OECs might not be as popular, but their beliefs are as fierce like those of YECs. OECs believe that the universe and life on Earth are billions of years old, and they believe that evolution is a myth.

Both forms of creationism deny that scientific theories such as natural selection and abiogenesis can explain the origin of life on Earth. They assert that evolution is impossible, because it would require miracles. The founders of modern science shunned miracles in fear that they would lose their credibility.

Some creationists accept naturalistic evolutionary as well as special creation, and refer to their belief as "theistic evolution." This is also referred to as "continuous evolutionism" or the "evolution of created kinds." In this view, God creates the original species and allows them to evolve over time. In the end the evolutionary changes create new species that are like the original ones.

Other creationists believe that God created the universe and all living things in a single event, called the Great Flood. Creationists believe that all the original species were created at the same time and then slowly evolved. They deny the notion of abiogenesis, and argue that self-replicating life can't come from nonliving matter.

In general, the creationists oppose teaching evolution in schools. This is a position that is backed by a variety of professional organizations which include 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 researchers and educational institutions are more flexible and allow for the inclusion of both evolution and creationism in their curricula.

What is Creationism?

When people think of creationism, they often think of the United States. South Korea also has an anti-evolution group. The publishers of high school textbooks have recently announced that they will eliminate references to evolution from their textbooks. The Society for Textbook Revise, an independent organization that is an offshoot from the Korea Association for Creation Research (KACCR) is the one who has led this campaign. STR has achieved its first victory in removing examples of the evolution of the horse as well as an avian ancestor, the Archeopteryx from textbooks. The next goal is to eliminate excerpts from Darwin’s infamous finch-research as well as on human evolution.

STR claims that it has the support of 4,000 families and members. The goal, according to STR is to clear the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" which paints an unflattering image for students. It also aims at countering the influence of American Creationists across the country. A survey of trainee biology teachers found that about 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 in the country.

The KACR has achieved a number of things through its seminars and lectures. It publishes a bimonthly news magazine, Creation, and has published books. One of these was a textbook on natural science with a creationist stance. This sparked an interest in college communities. In 1991 the year 1991, a minister and professor began teaching Creation Science in one university, and it is taught until today.

On August 7 and 8 the 7th of August 1993, which coincided with 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, spoke to an audience of several thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given talks on creation science in prestigious seminaries. KACR plans to establish a Creation Science Education Center in the near future.