Why do creationists say: If humans descended from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?

Question

This surprisingly common argument reflects several levels of ignorance about evolution. The first mistake is that evolution does not teach that humans descended from monkeys; it states that both have a common ancestor.

The deeper error is that this objection is tantamount to asking, "If children descended from adults, why are there still adults?" New species evolve by splintering off from established ones, when populations of organisms become isolated from the main branch of their family and acquire sufficient differences to remain forever distinct. The parent species may survive indefinitely thereafter, or it may become extinct.
http://www.sciam.com/

birdsflie....but you understand that you are NOT your parent right?

Answer 1

>>The first mistake is that evolution does not teach that humans descended from monkeys; it states that both have a common ancestor.<<

Very true, and this mistake is not only made by creationists:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aj6K9nkYYEKOZtUt3BxJ5gYjzKIX?qid=20070218040258AAXSrzw

Answer 2

I have not heard Creationists say such things, however, it is a really valid, scientific point in a way. All children grow up to become adults, in the same manner, if evolution is true, we should see the same thing everywhere in all life forms. The fact is, we see it no where, nothing seems to be "evolving." There is some adaptation going on, all well within the normal perimeters put into the design of the DNA.

Whenever an evolutionist tries to give an example of something evolving, I have to laugh because they should not have to give any examples -- it should be self evident. One should not really be able to destinguish between animals. One would always be evolving into another, and at various stages. Reminds me of that movie "the Land that Time Forgot" where on one island, every stage of evolutionary development of man could be found in successive order from the most primitive to the most advanced.

Kind of silly on an island, but on the whole planet, that is a different story, we should clearly see it. One an island here, or a continent there, there should be man at his various levels of evolutionary development. The more time evolutionists throw at their theory, the more this must be. Let's just stop and think a minute and say to ourselves, "what if evolution is true?" If we truly do that, then we can come up instantly with these sorts of real, troublesome problems.

Did you think for a moment on the problem that I just presented? You did? Good, then it occurred to you that we should see all the evolutionary stages of development with all the plants and animals (and etc) on the planet earth too. And they should be currently, clearly changing in front of our eyes, going from one step to the next. Evolutionists should not be looking for examples, they should have the examples by the trillions.

Do I have to point out other obvious things along these lines? Things like the system MUST fail millions of times before it goes ahead just one step? Doesn't it "click" in anyone's mind that we should see instant exinctions, de-evolution everywhere? Put down your faith evolutionists and pick up the science.

Answer 3

There is a whole industry catering to fundamentalists. If you Google [Intelligent Design] you can see some of what they do. There are people who sell books, magazines, lectures on DVD and VHS, posters, bookmarks and so forth, all "proving" evolution is wrong and those first verses in Genesis are right. Fundamentalist churches sponsor lectures by these folks; at the break you get a chance to buy the materials.

"Still monkeys" is one of the standard arguments. So is the fact there aren't any fossils of "missing links" - transitional species. (There are, in a number of cases, but that doesn't stop them.)

You have to remember that some of these folks get up and leave whenever the biology teacher mentions the "e" word, so their knowledge of the theory is limited. I always ask them if they get up and leave when the history teacher mentions fascism, communism or constitutional monarchy, since they don't believe in those, either.

That's why. You are right, it shows an apalling ignorance of the theory. On the bright side, most of them believe the earth is round and goes arond the sun; that only took 400 years to sink in, so there is hope.

Answer 4

Because they do not know diddly squat about evolution. And evolution supported by that other archfiend geology claim of all things that we are not made in god's image but come from lower life forms that were put here for us to do as we please. There is here a tremendous presumption on behalf of humans and that is that we are the supreme life form on this planet. From an evolutionary point of view we re just the new kids on the block. We were literally "born" a couple of hours ago. Evolution is all about change. Creationism is about stagnation

Answer 5

Because monkeys descended from something else. Maybe sloths, and sloths descended from something else. Everything on Earth is still evolving. In a few million years ( if the Earth is still here) the super highly evolved humans will still wonder what evolved from what.

Answer 6

I have never heard a creationist say that.
I believe in evolution.
But I have read up quite a bit on the creationist side, and I have yet to see this argument cited by any half-way credible creationist author.

Answer 7

You just showed how hard it is to make a valid analogy. (The deeper error is that this objection is tantamount to asking, "If children descended from adults, why are there still adults?")

Try again to make up something outlandish to demonstrate what it is like, rather than attacking the issue itself.

Answer 8

Because they are ill educated.
And worse, they have no desire to gain further education. Their ignorance is a shield against the truth. Look at laughable websites like answering genesis.org for example. Utter crap, yet these brainwashed idiots lap it up.
Like my dad used to say "you can lead an idiot to knowledge, but you can't make him think"...

Answer 9

Matthew 11:25............At that time Jesus said in response: “I publicly praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intellectual ones and have revealed them to babes.

Romans 1:18-23......For God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who are suppressing the truth in an unrighteous way, 19 because what may be known about God is manifest among them, for God made it manifest to them. 20 For his invisible [qualities] are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable; 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God nor did they thank him, but they became empty-headed in their reasonings and their unintelligent heart became darkened. 22 Although asserting they were wise, they became foolish 23 and turned the glory of the incorruptible God into something like the image of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed creatures and creeping things.

Answer 10

Regardless of how we got here, evolution or what ever. It was still all designed by God.