What Makes us Human?

Notedstrangeperson · #1 6th June 2009, 12:08 AM

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?

Mallon · #2 6th June 2009, 12:20 AM

What about bearing the image of God? Genesis makes that pretty clear.

And why do you think humans are "above evolution"?

peace4ever · #3 6th June 2009, 12:53 AM

Originally Posted by Notedstrangeperson

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?

Only an evolutionist would ask what a human is. All children can recognize the difference between animals and humans on sight.

That's because in order to deny God, Darwin has tried to dupe the world into believing that animals can turn into people or breed people as descendants. So evolutionists try to make it possible for animals to breed humans descendants and are thus naturally, confused about the difference between humans and animals. So they don't know why one can't breed the other.

But since you don't know, then I'll cut you some slack. Unlike any animal, humans have the capacity to reason, form and understand abstract concepts and values higher than bodily gratification. They also look different than animals which is why, of course, even children can recognize humans on sight.

Assyrian · #4 6th June 2009, 04:26 AM

Originally Posted by peace4ever

Only an evolutionist would ask what a human is.

Job 7:17 What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him,
Job 15:14 What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?
Psalm 8:4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
Psalm 144:3 O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him?

All children can recognize the difference between animals and humans on sight.

Maybe you need to be a bit older and wiser than a child to recognise we are animals too.
Eccles 3:18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.

gluadys · #5 6th June 2009, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Notedstrangeperson

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 see that a considerable amount of the research is done using monkeys. Would not neuroplasticity apply to any animal that learns?

It doesn't sound like a 'plastic brain' is uniquely human.

peace4ever · #6 6th June 2009, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by Assyrian

Job 7:17 What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him,
Job 15:14 What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?
Psalm 8:4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
Psalm 144:3 O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him?

Maybe you need to be a bit older and wiser than a child to recognise we are animals too.
Eccles 3:18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.

The verses in the psalms are talking about the significance of man, not trying to define him.

The verse in Ecclesiastes is explaining that when man does not use his ability to reason and understand the principles of God, then he is no better than animals. But since man has the capacity to do that unlike animals, then man is not an animal as Jude 10 confirms.

So it does not good to quote a God you don't believe because you've then defeated your whole point. That's why unbelievers always misunderstand verses.

But if you want to continue lying to your children that they are animals, namely apes (which scientists made up), then they can only act like animals which is happening to an increasing degree in today's society. The highest values of children are now bodily gratification. That's what the Darwin Delusion has done to society.

adimus · #7 6th June 2009, 10:56 AM

I believe that the "image of God" is a reference to man's spiritual nature alone.

God has no physical body and needs none, not getting into the incarnation of the Son here-for brevity's sake.

God is a Spirit. Mankind is a "living soul." Hebrew is "Chaya." It is slightly distinguished from animal life which is always called "nephesh" along with humans too if I am not mistaken. All biological life is spiritual and alive in a true sense. But Man is uniquely spiritual in contrast with all other known biological life.

And yes whales, dolphins, elephants and some primates display various sorts of what appears to be spirituality. But it is not honestly quite the same to the higher ways that humans are spiritual.

peace4ever · #8 6th June 2009, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by adimus

I believe that the "image of God" is a reference to man's spiritual nature alone.

God has no physical body and needs none, not getting into the incarnation of the Son here-for brevity's sake.

God is a Spirit. Mankind is a "living soul." Hebrew is "Chaya." It is slightly distinguished from animal life which is always called "nephesh" along with humans too if I am not mistaken. All biological life is spiritual and alive in a true sense. But Man is uniquely spiritual in contrast with all other known biological life.

And yes whales, dolphins, elephants and some primates display various sorts of what appears to be spirituality. But it is not honestly quite the same to the higher ways that humans are spiritual.

Sorry, but since man's "spiritual" nature only focuses on bodily gratifications and what suits his on desires like animals do, then man's nature is no better than an animal.

But since man was created to act on a higher level than animals, then that's what separates him from the animals. But he can only do that if he knows he was created separately from the animals by God who gives man the ability to understand higher values than animals and who has not given that ability to animals. But those who believe they were created from animals, can be no better than their creator; monkey see; monkey do.

And that's what Darwin has duped the world into believing.

Pretty tragic. So Darwin's delusion that animals can breed human descendants is not only a blatant lie, it is the most destructive lie told in the last few centuries which is why it spawned Naziism which is the belief that man can kill off the weak like animals do.

Mallon · #9 6th June 2009, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by adimus

I believe that the "image of God" is a reference to man's spiritual nature alone.

As do I. We certainly couldn't have been made in His physical image, as "God is spirit" (John 4:24a). If we subscribe to God's omnipresence, then God can have no body.

peace4ever · #10 6th June 2009, 11:59 AM

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?

It doesn't sound like a 'plastic brain' is uniquely human.

Who's the proverbial "they"?

Or don't you care who they are since you'll simply blindly believe them because they are brainwashing you that only they can think and the rest of the world cannot? I suspect so.

So, if you consider yourself a monkey, then I believe you. I'm a human so I'll use my reason when discussing issues, not losing my reason to have blind faith in fallible human beings.