I know we aren't descended from apes, but share a common ancestor. My question is, if we were created by God, weren't apes and/or that common ancestor also created by God? Define "God's image" for those of you going that route.
2007-12-20 04:47:09 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My question was meant to evoke intelligent thought amongst ourselves. Personally I do not believe in a God who has human shape or form, I believe that to list all the things God is would be to place limits on my ability to receive him. I rather list all the things God is not, leaving the list of what he is open and infinite. My idea of God is the Tao. Look it up if you have to.
Mr. Samsa, I will always favor your answers. Thank you.
2007-12-20 06:31:26 · update #1
It's possible that the whole evolutionary process was initiated by a higher power, starting with the first single-celled organisms almost 1 billion years ago. If those organisms were were created by a god, particularly an omniscient god, then it's possible that the creator foresaw how the organisms would develop over time into all of the lifeforms we see today, including people, apes, birds, trees and bacteria.
I personally don't see why the external influence is required, as the evolutionary process seems to be a natural occurrence of its own accord, but that's just me.
2007-12-20 04:56:36 · answer #1 · answered by Mr.Samsa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Friend, God created man and God created all things not man.
My oldest ancestor was a full man. Yours, too.
Man, unlike the other living creations, was made "in God's image." That means that we were endowed with certain qualities and attributes that reflect the character of God. Unfortunately, because of sin, that image was marred and is scarcely recognisable today. But one man did fully reflect the character of God. The bible says He was "the perfect likeness, the express image" of God. The Lord Jesus Christ.
So do you want to know what "made in the image of God" means? Examine the life of Jesus Christ and you will see it.
god bless
2007-12-20 12:56:49 · answer #2 · answered by happy pilgrim 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your question assumes evolution to be correct and it is not.
God created man as a special creation separate from the animals. Science has demonstrated this to be correct time after time yet still there are those who cling to the old ideas without any proof of their theories.
Hope that helps.
Oh, God's image is a triune being. We are also triune as we have a physical body, soul and spirit. The animals lack the spirit and therefore have no possible relationship with God where mankind does have that opportunity because we are created in His likeness and are possessing of a spirit.
2007-12-20 12:55:42 · answer #3 · answered by gilliamichael 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Gods image is not physical, (which is why there can be two sexes, God is neither male or female physically). It means that man is able to think and reason and also that we have a soul that is seperate from and continues after the physical body.
2007-12-20 12:57:18 · answer #4 · answered by busybee2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well in fact we *are* apes, and there are no gods in the real world.
NB: The reason we're classed as apes is that there is no valid way to group all the other apes together that doesn't also apply to humans. In other words, whatever criteria you use to define what is an ape, in order to include chimpanzees, gorillas, orangs and gibbons, humans will also fit those criteria. Indeed, chimpanzees are more closely related to humans than to gorillas, and gorillas are more closely related to humans and chimpanzees than they are to orangs, so any classification that separated humans out from those other apes would not make any sense.
2007-12-20 12:51:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Technically speaking we are apes.
It is fine to think that some god directed evolution, but that isn't what any of the holy books say. So at the very least you are admitting they got that part wrong.
2007-12-20 12:54:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No thanks, I don't "go that route"...
Oh, did you mean that IF there was a god, he obviously is proto-human looking? And by evolving we've moved away from the divine phenotype? So, the chimpansee might actually look more like god than we do ;)
2007-12-20 13:07:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God's Image refers to the ability to Love, Have compassion and feel other emotions. Not necessarily having humanoid form.
The other stuff, blah blah blah.
2007-12-20 12:51:40 · answer #8 · answered by Fire_God_69 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God was making species from images of him. But some of the images were photocopies. And some were photocopies of photocopies. Humans were the original image. Neanderthals and Homo Erectus were photocopies. Apes were photocopies of photocopies.
2007-12-20 12:54:47 · answer #9 · answered by Take it from Toby 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
"god's image" means people created a god in their image so that they could claim they were created in god's image
2007-12-20 12:50:12 · answer #10 · answered by bregweidd 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋