Origins TheologyForum for the discussion of Creation Science (Young/Old) vs Theistic Evolution. Discussion of Atheistic Evolution should be taken to the Discussion and Debate forums.
I am a theistic evolutionist - although I believe we evolved from ape-like ancesors, I also believe humans to be above nature and evolution.
I believe that what makes us human is our "plastic brain": Neuroplasticity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Put bluntly (very blunty), having a 'plastic brain' means that our thoughts and actions physically change the way our brains work.
Having only recently heard of this myself, there are undoubtedly many questions that need to be answered.
What do other people think of this idea, or of what makes us human?
I have tried this. The conclusion is: we can not prove that we are human. We are still apes. In other words, humans are apes. So your OP is void.
And why do you think humans are "above evolution"?
Natural selection is harsh - the basis of natural selection is that the stronger members pass on their genes by eliminating the weaker ones. When our current concept of evolution was published it lead to "Social Darwinism": Social Darwinism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Although we are not totally above and removed from evolution, we are not (or rather, should not be) completly ruled by the laws of natural selection. One of the arguments against eugentics, and occassionally abortion, is that we don't have the right to decide which traits are desireable and which are not.
Originally Posted by adimus
I believe that the "image of God" is a reference to man's spiritual nature alone.
Same here.
Originally Posted by gluadys
I see that a considerable amount of the research is done using monkeys. Would not neuroplasticity apply to any animal that learns?
That's a very good point. Possibly the reason I missed such an obvious conclusion was because some of the evidence and arguments for the 'plastic brain' (that I discovered) were based on therapies used on brain-damaged patients.
Although I haven't fully-explored the 'plastic brain' yet, a trait which could further seperate us from other animals capable of learning is that our own thoughts (rather than instructions from others) are what change the way our brains work.
Originally Posted by juvenissum
I have tried this. The conclusion is: we can not prove that we are human. We are still apes. In other words, humans are apes. So your OP is void.
That's like saying "All humans are animals therefore there is no difference between the animal brain and the human brain." Humans are animals (in that we are not rocks or plants) but we are a special animal, as we are "made in God's image".
Also, thanks to the ironically-named "Peace4ever" for screwing up every post on Origins Theology.
Natural selection is harsh - the basis of natural selection is that the stronger members pass on their genes by eliminating the weaker ones.
Not quite. Natural selection simply means that the "more fit" individuals will tend to out-compete "less fit" individuals for resources. But being fit doesn't necessarily mean being strong or aggressive. Increased fitness can result from cooperation between individuals. Thus, social darwinism is a misappropriation of natural selection. Evolution is descriptive, not prescriptive.
__________________ We can allow satellites, planets, suns, universe, nay whole systems of universes, to be governed by laws, but the smallest insect, we wish to be created at once by special act.
Natural selection is harsh - the basis of natural selection is that the stronger members pass on their genes by eliminating the weaker ones. When our current concept of evolution was published it lead to "Social Darwinism": Social Darwinism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
No, that is not the basis of natural selection. And it is not actually a current conception of evolution but a much outdated one. Fitness is measured by reproductivity, not by strength or any other such quality. The genes that account for a better adaptation to one's ecological niche are the ones that will, on average (there are always individual exceptions) be passed on to the next generation, because better adapted individuals are more likely to reproduce.
When we confuse this meaning of fitness with being physically fit, we get the incorrect picture that a plant or animal has to challenge other members of its species and win contests of some sort to evolve. But evolution does not happen because one fights to evolve or desires to evolve. It happens automatically without any action on the part of individuals.
That confusion was part of what was wrong with Social Darwinism. Another part of what was wrong with it was the assumption that poverty is genetically based instead of a function of an unjust social distribution of resources. That is why the eugenicists mistakenly thought you could get rid of poverty by sterilizing the poor.
__________________ The high, the low, all of creation God gives to humankind to use. If this privilege is misused, God's Justice permits creation to punish humanity~~ Hildegard of Bingen cited in, Earth Prayers from around the World
I am a theistic evolutionist - although I believe we evolved from ape-like ancesors, I also believe humans to be above nature and evolution.
I believe that what makes us human is our "plastic brain": Neuroplasticity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Put bluntly (very blunty), having a 'plastic brain' means that our thoughts and actions physically change the way our brains work.
Having only recently heard of this myself, there are undoubtedly many questions that need to be answered.
What do other people think of this idea, or of what makes us human?
In another thread, I said: human knows how to make a fire.
I still think it is a very good answer.
I am a theistic evolutionist - although I believe we evolved from ape-like ancesors, I also believe humans to be above nature and evolution.
I believe that what makes us human is our "plastic brain": Neuroplasticity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Put bluntly (very blunty), having a 'plastic brain' means that our thoughts and actions physically change the way our brains work.
Having only recently heard of this myself, there are undoubtedly many questions that need to be answered.
What do other people think of this idea, or of what makes us human?
I feel that as long as we have breath and live in this Creation, it's impossible to separate us out from Nature and Evolution in any way, shape or form.
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__________________
The Universe is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects - Thomas Berry
The most excellent being in the universe is the universe itself. - Thomas Berry
I am a theistic evolutionist - although I believe we evolved from ape-like ancesors, I also believe humans to be above nature and evolution.
I believe that what makes us human is our "plastic brain": Neuroplasticity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Put bluntly (very blunty), having a 'plastic brain' means that our thoughts and actions physically change the way our brains work.
Having only recently heard of this myself, there are undoubtedly many questions that need to be answered.
What do other people think of this idea, or of what makes us human?
Our soul is what makes us human. It is uniquely created in the "image and likeness" of God. (Gen.1:26&27)
The image refers to shadow image. Just as God is unseen, so is our soul. The likeness refers to personhood. It is from our soul that our personalities are formed. There are both male and female souls.
It was this soul (Adam) created in Gen.1:27 that God breathed into the body He formed in Gen.2:7. In this way Adam (unseen soul) became a "living soul", ie. alive to space and time and visible.
Animals also have "soul" but it is not like people. The word generally translated soul is "nephesh". It has a basic root meaning of "breath (of life)". The "nephesh" in animals is in the blood (Deut.12:23). It is not created separate in the image or likeness of God but is formed from the earth as part of their biology. (Gen.2:19)
Humans are not related to animals except by virtue of both being created by God. Although it should be noted that we have a biological affiliation with land animals as both Adam's body and land animals came from the earth, but our humanity is not in our biological life but in our soul life.
Our soul is what makes us human. It is uniquely created in the "image and likeness" of God. (Gen.1:26&27)
The image refers to shadow image. Just as God is unseen, so is our soul. The likeness refers to personhood. It is from our soul that our personalities are formed. There are both male and female souls.
It was this soul (Adam) created in Gen.1:27 that God breathed into the body He formed in Gen.2:7. In this way Adam (unseen soul) became a "living soul", ie. alive to space and time and visible.
peace
What astonishes me is that some people can present a far-fetched interpretation of the text like this and still insist it is a literal reading and not an interpretation.
I know this particular poster has not made that claim, so I am not trying to put words into her mouth. But I do ask those who claim to adhere to a literal hermeneutic to really look at what they present. If it looks like this, it is NOT a literal reading.
__________________ The high, the low, all of creation God gives to humankind to use. If this privilege is misused, God's Justice permits creation to punish humanity~~ Hildegard of Bingen cited in, Earth Prayers from around the World
What astonishes me is that some people can present a far-fetched interpretation of the text like this and still insist it is a literal reading and not an interpretation.
I know this particular poster has not made that claim, so I am not trying to put words into her mouth. But I do ask those who claim to adhere to a literal hermeneutic to really look at what they present. If it looks like this, it is NOT a literal reading.
There is nothing far fetched about what I said. It is based upon teaching received from those who know the original languages. Unless one knows the original language, one cannot determine what it literally means.
Sorry but semantics can't determine reality. 
Linear Mode
