how come Ray Mears on TV last night was showing me how early full humans (homo sapiens sapiens) made flint tools 130 thousand years ago?
And how come I never see a chimp give birth to a human when I'm at the zoo? why are monkeys still?
2006-06-26 23:31:29 · 18 answers · asked by gwbruce_2000 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Earth is supposudly around 4 Billion years old, scientists say, since its formation.
2006-06-26 23:35:24 · answer #1 · answered by David S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best estimates for the age of the Earth (based mainly on carbon dating) is 4.5 billion years, not 6 000 years.
Humans evolved from apes and the ancestry is occluded. Chimpanzees have evolved from early apes as well, but we don't necessarily have a common ape ancestor. Chimpanzees are a seperate species, which is why we don't see them giving birth to humans, zebra, plankton, whales or any other species. They have baby chimpanzees!
Evolution occurs by natural selection. That's to say mutation.
For example, people are born with disabilities. This is evolution in action. Normally the mutation results in death or disability, but very occasionally the mutation confers a benefit which, when that is passed on through having babies increases the chances of suvival. (ie// beneficial mutations are passed on). This is the mechanism of evolution, and is also the reason that larger, slower breeding creatures evolve at a much slower rate than, for example, bacteria. Bacteria can evolve very quickly, which is why new illnesses are frequently cropping up, whereas mammals like humans and chimpanzees evolve very slowly over the millenia.
If you want to know how we end up with millions of species of animals I suggest as a start point: -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin
For the age of the Earth see this link: -
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-age-of-earth.html
2006-06-27 06:53:23 · answer #2 · answered by Grimread 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Evolution vs Creationism is a very contentious debate with both sides generally 100% sure they are correct. At the end of the day and as rational creatures we must make a decision as to faith or evidence. Personally I will take evidence every time and therefore back the scientists but I could be wrong. Regarding the chimp giving birth to a human. The theory of evolution is very small changes over a very long period of time. You would never see a jump in species in one generation.
2006-06-27 06:39:13 · answer #3 · answered by Git 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible was written by people and people get thing wrong all of the time. Extremist Christian groups believe that the Earth is only a few thousand years old cos it says so in the book, God gave us a brain and if we don't use it we are doing him a disservice. Of course the Earth is millions of years old - really they know it too but are too bloody minded to admit it because that would make them have to reconsider their own silly medieval beliefs.
Oh and the world isn't flat either
2006-06-27 06:41:30 · answer #4 · answered by heath 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To answer part two of your question, evolution is a pretty intelligent process, with or without the idea of a god behind it. It works things into practice little by little over eons. The reason we evolved from monkeys and yet still have monkeys is simple; humans might one day evolve into creatures who no longer enjoy eating bananas. Where, then, in the eyes of a just and loving god, would that leave the banana? By leaving monkeys behind, the banana is always guaranteed a place in god's creation.
2006-06-27 06:53:20 · answer #5 · answered by Lenny 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know where you get that imformation from. Some Christians believe that the earth is about 6000 years old. I don't believe it is. But I'm not sure we can really provethat the world is millions or billions of years old neither. The end of the day whether you believe it or not God created it in the first place regardless the age.
2006-06-27 09:51:34 · answer #6 · answered by Smart_Guy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wouldn't dinosaurs be mentioned in the Bible? They were pretty widespread over the earth ... you would think that they would have been noticed.
To try to rubbish any scientific hypothesis on the basis of an unsupported text is pretty weak (actually staggeringly weak).
I have never seen a man rise from the dead or a miracle ... does that mean you accept the Bible is fake - I suspect not.
2006-06-27 07:05:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The earth is billions of years old, not thousands
2006-06-27 06:37:08 · answer #8 · answered by Lulu 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you Whimpy the monkey? Trained to read and write?
Been hittin' the whiskey bottle this early in the morning?
Been smokin' blunts again?
2006-06-27 06:38:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clearly the Earth isn't 6000 years old then.
Is that what you wanted to hear?
2006-06-27 06:37:04 · answer #10 · answered by 'Dr Greene' 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋