에볼루션 게이밍
Until recently the scientific community in Korea has been hesitant to engage with the creationists in fear that it could increase the credibility of the movement. But silence is no anymore an option.
The STR has been battling to get rid of textbooks that describe evolution, such as the discovery of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx as an ancestral bird's ancestor. However, this is just one aspect of the development paradigm's evolution.
What is Evolution?
The theory of evolution is a scientific one that explains the evolution of the genetic traits of living organisms over time. The theory is based on the fact that living organisms adapt to their environments, which can cause variations in genes or even whole genomes. Over the course of many generations, these changes can result in the creation of new species. The predominant theory of evolution is natural selection, which describes the process by which people with advantages survive and reproduce more frequently than those with disadvantages. Over time, this differential reproduction can lead to the emergence of entirely new species.
The term "evolution", which comes from Latin for revealing or unrolling has been used in a variety of different ways as the concept has evolved, both in science and elsewhere. Early evolutionists like Erasmus Darwin (Charles’s grandfather) and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck believed that species were predestined to evolve into a different species. Etienne Geoffroy St-Hilaire, Lamarck's embryologist pupil who came up with the term "transmutation" to describe this view. Charles Lyell, in his Principles of Geology, published in 1833, challenged the concept of evolution and borrowed the term from Geoffroy's student.
More recently evolutionary biologists have defined evolution as a process that occurs when living organisms develop traits that improve their chances of survival, or their ability to reproduce offspring. Over time, genetic variability can lead a population to acquire new physical characteristics or biological functions. The variation in gene frequencies is known as natural selection and it drives most evolutionary change. Non-genetic changes, such as an increase in muscle mass due to exercise or diet, cannot be considered to be evolutionary because they aren't passed down to future generations.
Despite the fact that evolution has stood the tests of time and thousands of scientific studies however, creationists have taken advantage of the idea that evolution is controversial and argue that it shouldn't be taught in school. In South Korea, creationists won a few victories against evolution in textbooks for high schools. This includes the removal of all references to the evolutionary roots of humans and Archaeopteryx - a feathered dino believed to be the ancestral bird's first ancestor.
Why is Evolution important to humanity?
Evolution explains the origins and evolution of Earth and all living species. It is also one of the foundations of biology, and helps scientists understand how living things work and develop. Evolution also shows how different species are interconnected. Scientists study evolution to understand the natural world, and also to make important discoveries, such as developing new medicines.
The evidence for biological 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 scientific theory of evolution. It is important to remember that evolutionary biology doesn't interfere with religious beliefs since it only deals with physical objects, events, and processes.
In reality, many religious people have found ways to reconcile their beliefs with the theory of evolution. For instance, some Christians believe that God created the world through evolution, and that humans share an ancestral lineage with other animals.
It is essential for scientists to stand up for the teaching of evolution. In some countries, anti-evolution sentiment has been growing. In the United States, efforts to restrict the teaching of evolution have made headway 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 on the evolution of horses as well as the bird ancestral Archaeopteryx.
It is important to remember, however, that the evidence in favor of evolution is overwhelming. The evidence for evolution comes from many sources, including fossils, genetics and the behavior of living creatures. Other scientists independently verify the evidence.
The vast majority of scientists support the theory of evolution. This belief is based on various reasons. Certain scientists study evolution in order to make practical discoveries, such as developing medicines, while others are motivated by an interest in improving the quality of life for animals and plant species, generally to benefit humans. Some are simply curious, and still others have a deep religious belief in God and want to know how the universe works.
What is Creationism?
Creationists are those who believe that God created the universe and everything in it. They also believe that the Bible is the word of God and should be taken seriously. Although some creationists are not Christian but they are a majority. Creationists typically fall into two categories: Young Earth creationists (YEC) and old earth creationists (OEC).
The YECs are perhaps the most well known form of creationist, and they believe that God created the universe exactly as described in the Bible. They believe that the biblical account of the six days of creation is true and that the universe and the life on Earth started only recently.
OECs may be less well-known, but their beliefs are just as intense as the YECs. OECs believe that the universe as well as Earth are billions of years old and that evolution is a lie.
Both kinds of creationism deny the idea that scientific principles like biogenesis and natural selection could explain how life started on Earth. They claim that evolution is impossible, because it would require miracles. The pioneers of modern scientific thought shunned miracles out of fear they might lose their credibility.
Some creationists believe in naturalistic evolution as well as special creation, and refer to their belief "theistic evolution." This is sometimes known as "continuous creationism" or "evolution from the original species." In this belief system, God creates the original species, and then allows them to change over time. Eventually these evolutionary changes will produce new species that are identical to the original species.
Other creationists believe that God created the universe and all living things in a single event, referred to as the Great Flood. They believe that the first species were all created simultaneously, and that they grew gradually afterward. They reject the idea of abiogenesis and assert that self-replicating living cannot come from non-living matter.
In general, creationists oppose the teaching of evolution in schools. Numerous professional associations, like the National Science Teachers Association and the Association for Science Teacher Education support this position as do the American Anthropological Association and the Geological Society of America. Some academic institutions and scientists are however more flexible and allow evolution and creationism to be included in their curricula.
What is Creationism in Korea?
When people think of the concept of creationism, they often think of the United States. However, South Korea is also the home of an anti-evolutionist movement. The publishers of high school textbooks announced last week that they would remove 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) has been the driving force behind this effort. STR has secured its first victory by removing examples of the evolution of the horse and an avian ancestor called the Archeopteryx from textbooks. It is now focusing on removing excerpts from Darwin's infamous finch research and on human evolution, too.
STR claims that it has the support of 4,000 families and members. Its goal, it says is to clear the world of what it calls "atheist materialism" that paints a negative view for students. It also aims to counteract the influence of American creationists in the United States. A survey of undergraduates studying biology revealed that half of them did not believe in evolution. The causes aren't clear, but may include religious beliefs or the absence of full-time creation scientists in the United States.
The KACR has achieved a lot through its lectures and seminars in the past. It publishes a bimonthly magazine, Creation, and has published books. The most notable of these is a text on the natural sciences that has a creationist viewpoint, which sparked interest in college communities. In 1991, a professor, along with a minister began teaching Creation Science at one university. It is still taught to students today.
On August 6-7 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 around the world including ICR's John Morris, Duane Gish and Steven Austin spoke to audiences of a few thousand. KACR members and KACR have also given talks on the subject of creation science at major seminaries. KACR intends to establish a Creation Science Education Center.