For evolutionists and non-believers with higher education in science only please???

Question

I am a non-believer to preface. However, I do have a question and I'd like to see if any of you have an opinion about it.

I have believed that the reason that monkeys still exist today, is because evolution is a constant. The same reason we have one-celled organisms still. But if that is the case, why aren't there neanderthals and homo erectus roaming around? Could these guys be the "Big Foot" monsters witnessed around the world?

"Jungle" Read the first statement.

Its just a question. Don't be so defensive. As are most of my questions, I enjoy what the intelligent and educated posters have to say about these subjects. I'm not "grasping for straws", I have no hesitations about my own theories. Im a student, and I do A LOT of research, which leads to many of my questions. It is ignorant to think that you know my reasons for scrutiny.

Answer 1

Ok. Possible.

First of all, evolution is constantly happening, you are right about that. The reason monkeys still exist today is because every different species has evolved at the same time. Putting it simply, humans may have evolved from apes, but the apes that we evolved from no longer exist because they became humans, understand? While humans were evolving from these apes, a different species of apes evolved into orangutans, and another species evolved into Gorillas. This gives us the wide variety of species we have on the planet today. And each organism on the planet serves a purpose and fills a niche, that is really why we still have monkeys and single celled organisms.
The reason there aren't neanderthals and homo-erectus roaming around is due to a different concept called "survival of the fittest". Neanderthals and homo-erectus would have filled the same 'niche' in the biological order of things. They are two distinct species and whichever one could survive better would eventually dominate and succeed while the other would suffer and slowly die out becoming extinct.
It is theoretically possible, though unlikely that there are small groups of neanderthals roaming the wilderness of Northern America giving rise to the Big Foot myth, but if that were the case there would surely be some solid evidence by now. Sometimes things are mysterious and unexplainable, its fun to wonder about the possibilities but without evidence nothing can be said for sure.

Answer 2

Sure, they could be. I've thought of that. The reason there are still monkeys around has to do with the way that evolution works. A mutation will occur and be repeated, but this does not have to happen in an entire population. For a mutation to be successful, it must be advantagious, so walking upright would definitely qualify, as well as a larger brain. A possiblility for why they did not last is because the changes that led to them were successful enough for them to reproduce for a short time, but they may have had a flaw that was selected out before their extinction.

One other possibility is that they do still exist, but in undiscovered areas. People just discovered an island with animals yet unknown. there could be other islands just like it around.

Answer 3

I can't say i believe in "bigfoot" to be honest. With all our technology we have yet to be able to actually get a clear photograph or a live specimen to prove the existence of such a thing... or even any remains of one. As for the reason that neanderthals are not roaming the earth..well... have you ever been to saskatchewan Canada?

lol sorry... seriously though i would assume that its because most of the Neanderthal traits have been bred out of the human race throughout time. To keep the proper gene sequence would also unfortunately involve inbreeding throughout the years, and the speicies would die off eventually anyway.

Answer 4

You need to read 'In the Minds of Men" by Ian Taylor, or 'Ancient Man", by Dr D. Chittick. There are many others that can help you with that question. You have obviously not kept up with anthropology, Neanderthal and homo erectus have experienced a slight correction-they are not what we thought.

Answer 5

Yes, evolution is constant. It is still happening, but at such a slow rate that no one person can live long enough to see it happening. It like trying to see the movement of the hour hand of a wristwatch. You can't see it moving, but you know it is moving. Homo sapiens usurped neandethals and home erectus or evolved from them. Could be Big Foot for all we know. Let's wait for the evidence.

Answer 6

They are extict through natural selection. They weren't able to survive so the weaker one died and the stronger ones lived, until know there is an obvious distiction between our closest relatives. If all of species were alive there would be a seemless merge from one to another.

However, honestly this is a question which you can't answer so easlily. it's like asking how to do advanced trig and expecting to learn in one short description.

There are some good links on evolution here though:

http://www.becominghuman.org/
http://www.atheistresource.co.uk/science.html

Answer 7

I've never understood why it's considered a contradiction for there to still be apes.

Would they say: The white people in America can't be descended from Europeans, because there are still white people in Europe?

Also/

The theory isn't that humans are descended from the types that are alive today. The theory is that there is a common ancestor.

Answer 8

The same theory has been debated as a possibility fro a while -- if you google bigifoot neanderthals, you can find some frivolous and some serious scientific examinations of the idea! Good thinking!

Answer 9

No, but the reason we don't have neanderthals around is the same reason other organisms have died off...they've been killed off or something.

If I remember right, I remember reading that for awhile, homosaphiens (humans, right?) and neanderthal man lived together for a short time. Was that right, I wonder, or was it another type of 'man' that lived along side us for awhile?

Answer 10

Talking about giving misleading statements, sounds like you grasp at straws in order to cling to your desire to believe in evolution. Big Foot is a desperate measure to take for someone so devoted to supposed science and logic.