2006-09-02 16:14:41 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"If humans evolved from apes, then why are there still apes?"
Humans *are* apes. The most recent common ancestor of both humans and chimpanzees was approximately 6 million years ago.
The way to understand this is to remember that living organisms are in a state of constant change - It's not that evolution *can* occur, but that it *must* occur, simply because there is no mechanism in living organisms to ensure perfect, flawless reproduction for ever.
2006-09-02 16:15:41 · update #1
Suppose you could study a population of chimpanzees in the jungle, on a timescale of millions of years. Clearly, each individual only lives a few decades, so the population is constantly being succeeded by individuals which are different from their parents - and remember, this is *inevitable*. It can't *not* happen. All the time this population is inter-breeding, the genes are getting mixed together, and only genes which work well with all other chimpanzee genes will tend to get passed down to successive generations (because individuals with genes that don't work well together will tend not to reproduce).
2006-09-02 16:16:09 · update #2
However, suppose that circumstances arise which cause a group to become genetically isolated from other chimpanzees. This could be as a result of an accident of geography (e.g. an impassable river) or breeding preference or simply great distance. There will develop two distinct groups of chimpanzees which can never again exchange genes, because they have become different enough that mating will not produce viable offspring. This is what biologists define as speciation - i.e. the population has forever split into two distinct groups. Biologists have observed many instances of speciation, so there is no doubt that it occurs.
2006-09-02 16:16:36 · update #3
Assuming that both groups continue to survive, it is again *inevitable* that they will diverge genetically - There is no possible way that both groups, isolated and independent from each other, can change in exactly the same ways, and the longer they continue to breed, the more different they will become. Over millions of years, given that the rate of genetic change via mutation tends to remain fairly constant, the two groups will become as distinct as today's chimpanzees and humans are from each other, and from their most recent common ancestor.
2006-09-02 16:16:59 · update #4
All this is based on what we *know* is true - it's not supposition or guesswork, and remember it's not just possible, it absolutely *has* to happen, because there is no mechanism in biology to make reproduction a 100% perfect, flawless process.
Hope this is a useful explanation.
2006-09-02 16:17:26 · update #5
Thank you for your detailed post. The problem is that some theists will not acknowledge evidence, even when presented in a perfectly logical fashion.
2006-09-02 16:24:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
I have never had a problem with that, many christians are just as ignorant as many evolutionists. Man didn't evolve from ape, but I understand how you think it.The REAL problem is, how did the ape come from ooze?
2006-09-03 00:28:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
The irony of this question is that you actually believe you know what happened 6 million years ago. My friend, to believe in what you wrote takes faith.
It takes more faith to say, with certainty, what happened so long ago without much evidence, than it does to believe what was written down approximately 2 thousand years ago and has been documented to be historically accurate.
I applaud you for your demonstration of faith and could only hope that Christians can use this as an example of strong faith, yet redirect it to the truth of the word of God.
2006-09-02 23:26:47 · answer #3 · answered by asafam23 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
You know it's true and I know it's true along with quite a few others but the ones who need to know its true wont get past the first sentence.
Like the one girl I work with said - "I believe in the bible so why would I even want to study science?" Kind of an ostrich type reaction - stick your head in the sand and if you cant see it it doesn't exist.
(Yes I know ostriches don't actually do that but we all know the folklore)
2006-09-02 23:25:36 · answer #4 · answered by Sage Bluestorm 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
just loving these answers
the real question here is "were you there"
the real question is, where did the ape come from? what came 1st?
and why in the world would you list this question in religion and spirituality? are you looking for reaction or trying to convert a creationist with your theory?
wake up man! they are both theories.
2006-09-03 01:28:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wouldn't millions and millions of years show lots and lots of bones and fossils proving half man, half ape? Our planet should be littered with finds that prove your point. Why has no one yet come up with solid evidence of such? For now evolution remains as theory, not fact. But perhaps in millions and millions of years you'll prove your point. I have a theory too, called Creation. Have you listened to it with a truly objective ear? It's a valid theory too.
2006-09-02 23:30:01 · answer #6 · answered by ccrider 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Just like to say that we have found bones from our ancestors that are semi-evolved and watch the news, every few weeks they uncover some new semi- evolved bones
2006-09-02 23:51:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Well you see, everytime there is a mutation, there is an explosion of mutations. And it's just happens to coincidide with the explosion that occurs between the Evolutionists ears, making it impossible for them to realize that their so called science is actually faith based.
It's scientifically proven!
2006-09-02 23:18:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
your a good guy, i didnt see anyone who read your explanation, i always attack the theists for bringing up evolution in the religion section, they arent looking for a real answer
the one girl who said who made the apes . . . god
pretty much somes it up,
they either are creationists or theistic evolutionists
why do we bother
2006-09-02 23:44:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I agree, and your 100% right, but you simply will not convince a creationist...
They'll simply disregard these facts and turn to the bible for their study of biology, instead of a textbook...
2006-09-03 00:29:20 · answer #10 · answered by RATM 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋