So... let's address a common human evolution question from a Christian perspective...?

Question

There's a question asked a lot here by creationists - If we evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

I often see many Christians that have a high opinion of the Answers in Genesis website. So, I'm gonna post a link to an article from that site that gives an answer to this question.

You will have to scroll down a bit.

http://www.answersingenesis.org/Home/Area/faq/dont_use.asp#apes

You see, even the Christian apologists want other Christians and creationists to stop using that argument.

Have you ever used this argument?

Will you continue to use this argument? If so... then what is it that you disagree with or don't understand?

And... if you happen to be an evolutionist as opposed to a creationist, what are your opinions on the details of this article?

Nevermind, apparently, you don't have to scroll down. My bad :)

Is trying to get people closer to understanding each other the same as causing trouble?

I am not a witch. Why would you think I am?

Other than that... this is not about the truth or untruth of evolution.

This is ONLY about the logical problem with this ONE argument.

Thanks.

Actually, ddead not only diverted the argument from the question that was asked, this is not even his own opinion.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20060628194256AAU66Q3

Answer 1

We did evolve from a previous species, one that diverged from an ancestor that was common to apes, but it's possible that the human line was never, strictly speaking, the SAME as an ape...it depends on how severe the genetic mutation was...

ddead: I like how you point out all of the hoaxes and don't state that there have been many skeletons found and recorded for Home habilis, Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis (while not necessarily man, still the same genus and possibly one that bred with sapiens), and you don't even mention the whole genus Australopithecus, a commonly cited group of ancestors...

Evolution hasn't been proven, but there is a theory and ongoing science to support this theory, part of which is actual physical evidence...Creationists have stories and faith, but I guess that's enough for them...

Answer 2

Is this the evidence for evolution?
Piltdown Man - A deliberate hoax. Ended up being a ape jaw attached to a human skull that was stained to look old.

Java Man - The discover later rejected it stating that a human & ape were just found in proximity.

Peking Man - Tools & human bones were found near the apes whose brains they were eating (monkey brains are still eaten in China).

Nebraska Man - An entire person (and family) was envisioned from a single tooth... a tooth that later proved to have come from a pig.

Lucy - Reclassified as an extinct ape.

Ramapithecus - A jaw & teeth were eventually dismissed as early human in origin (an Orangutan).

Neanderthal.... a man?
It was once thought that the Neanderthal was a man. But, thanks to advancement in science, genetic DNA research indicates that the chromosomes do not match those of humans. They do match those of bi-pedal primates (apes) though.

Tools? The use of crude tools by Neanderthal does not mean they were human. Many animals including birds, fish, and mammals use "tools".

Shelter? If Neanderthal created shelters, it does not imply they were human. Many animals (beavers, birds, bees) also construct shelters.

Religion? There is no evidence that Neanderthal practiced any form of worship or religion. Interestingly, that is the primary way the bible separates Man from animals.

Why then do some people still insist Neanderthal was man?

Answer 3

You should research all the other times in history where religious belief conflicted with science and religion was proven correct. Let's see, people used to believe earthquakes were caused by angry gods, then they discovered plate tectonics. I guess science won that one. Then they believed demons and evil spirits caused disease, until they discovered bacteria and germs. Darn, science was right on that too. In the middle ages the Christian Church officially promoted the doctrine of preformation, which stated that embryos were tiny pre-formed people that grew in the womb. Oh wait, science came along and proved the whole DNA thing, with embryos starting out as a single cell. Wow, this is harder than I thought. I know there must be some time in history where religion was proven correct. Witches? No. A lot of so called witches in Europe turned out to be people who unknowingly ate a hallucinagenic fungus that grew on wheat... I know, the sun revolves around the earth! Oh wait, even the Catholics finally admitted they were wrong on that one (even if it did take them until the 1960s). The earth is only 6000 years old? No, that has been disproven by several different and unrelated scientific measures. Comets foreshadow supernatural events? Nope. they travel in fixed and predictable orbits. The Bible Code? No, proven a hoax. No evolution? Oh wait, we can actually see evolution happening in bacteria, in addition to the overwhelming and conclusive evidence in the fossil record (including plenty of "transitional fossils" for all you head-in-the sanders). Sorry, I'm sure there must be some time when a religious belief triumphed over science, but I can't think of any...

Answer 4

I'm not sure which perspective you're coming from. I'm not sure it matters.
I started out in high school as a Christian. It took me years of study to fully understand evolutionary theory. I did just what scientists should do - put the theory to the test and ask the hard questions and look at the evidence objectively. I can tell you that very few people fully understand it, and that the vast majority of people who have commentary on the subject do not understand it well. It seems that the more opinionated they are, and the louder they argue their points (this goes for both sides of the issue) the more their arguments are really belief-driven and the less they are driven by a true understanding of all of the science that lies behind evolutionary theory. You can't really believe in evolutionary theory. You don't take it on faith. You continue to scientifically test the theory and its hypotheses until you fail to find good scientific evidence to throw it out. When you cannot throw it out (and tidy rhetorical arguments, people, are not scientific observations and tests), then you eventually have to concluded that the theory stands on its own merits.

Answer 5

Humans evolved...I don't think from Apes. Why are the dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals mentioned in the bible? What about humans evolving from prehistoric man. Christians cannot explain the existence of any animal, bird, fish. If you think man is the most important species on this planet, you are going to be surprised. What is the one species on this planet that has harmed it the most. White man. We pollute every aspect of this planet. If we treated this planet as the American Indian did...There would be no pollution. No global warming and all those animals and fish that are extinct would be here in abundance. We are going to Heaven for doing that? Better get another plan. If I were God I would send every last human to Hell for Fu*king up my Earth.

Answer 6

The fact is, no record exists (fossil, genetic, or otherwise) that shows a direct relationship between man and any ape (or common ancestor). That's what is known as the "missing link". Until it is found, I will continue to believe that man began in the Garden of Eden, not swinging in a tree eating bananas.

Answer 7

Otters don't worry about evolution vs creationism. We know that the Great Mother Otter will tell us when She's ready to. We also know that Shrimp Puffs are yummy! What was the question again?

Answer 8

too many questions to answer...

I don't believe we evolved from apes.
I believe humans were created by God "as humans"

I think we are also the only animal with a soul; and we are different from all other animals simply because we were created in God's image.

Answer 9

I never made that argument. to me, it's a bit like saying, "if we have algebra, why learn basic math."
just doesn't make sense.

Answer 10

cause it takes time to evolve, they just havent caught up