If you're a Christian who also believes in evolution, how many of our caveman ancestors might you bump into...

Question

in heaven? In other words, what does your faith tell you about where those who lived in ignorance of God might end up?

Answer 1

It’s a good question. There are many Christians who profess their devotion to their creed, but at the same time believe in evolution as adamantly as any atheist. In principle, the concepts of evolution, and Christian theology are not mutually incompatible, as long as you are the type of Christian that reads the Genesis narrative allegorically as opposed to a literal account of history.

The question of salvation of those who existed before the Bible was authored, such as the caveman, or more primitive forms of man, is something that theologians have tried to grapple with for a long time. Their answers are imaginative, but ultimately unsatisfying.

The conundrum can be summarized quite easily. If knowledge and acceptance of Christ’s work of atonement on the cross is necessary for salvation, then people who existed prior to Christ’s saving work are to be condemned to eternal torment. Those who live during Christ’s time, and after, who failed to receive the message – as many who live today in countries not dominated by Christianity – will also be consigned to perdition. Still more who are exposed to the Christian message, but are given the message by people who are too incompetent to promote it convincingly, will also be thrust into everlasting fire because the evangelist who they met did not articulate it in a cogent manner. All these people who suffer unending torment, will endure such pain for various environmental circumstances beyond their control.

Now either God is so cruel that he would allow people to perish for all eternity due to contingencies that these people where unwillingly subject to, or some other means to salvation is available to those who are uninitiated in Christ’s saving work. However, if another means of salvation is available to others who lacked exposure to the Christian message, then there is no need for Christ’s monumental sacrifice, and thus the central doctrine of Christianity, and Christianity itself, collapses.

Answer 2

This is why evolution is incompatible with the Bible. First, we know that during the patriarchal age people lived under the law of the conscience. Second, a person can never evolve a conscience. Third, the patriarchal age could not have existed. Fourth, this denies Biblical teaching which says man has a soul. Fifth, it denies that God created man. Sixth, there is no point in evolutionary history where you can say man evolved a conscience and could recognize right and wrong. Seventh, there is no point in evolutionary history where you can say man evolved a soul.

Answer 3

I am a Christian, but for some reason I don't believe in the evolution of man, but I do believe in the evolution of animals. If man evolved from a ape, then why are there still monkeys on the planet?

But to answer your question, I learned in church that those who died before Jesus died on the cross all went to heaven.

Answer 4

Good question.

I am not a Christian. I do believe in reincarnation. Many of us may have been a 'caveman' on our first life.

Answer 5

I do believe in evolution and you pose an interesting question. I'm not sure what the answer is!

Answer 6

our LORD Jesus Chirst came to save his human kin, therefore, from Adam and Eve and on. Cavemen and every other "humanoid" before Adam and Eve didn't have souls, therefore, aren't part of God's plan of salvation. Adam and Eve were the first "True" Man and "True" Woman, because they were created in God's image, by having reason,intelligence, morals, etc. because of their souls. God bless.

Answer 7

I don't know. But it's not my problem to sort out, so I'm okay with not worrying about it.