If We Did Evolve From Apes...

[Dream]

If we did evolve from apes, then who were Adam and Eve? Where they the first beings that we would classify as homosapians? Were they completly human?

And who were these Neadrethal men? Did they have souls?

Thoughts or opinions anyone?

 

[Paul S]

Short answer, we don't know.

Slightly longer answer: if our bodies did evolve from apes, then God chose to give one of these creatures an immortal soul, and called him Adam. In another recent thread on the flood, we discussed evolution and Eve. I'm not yet convinced that the Bible's story of Eve being formed from the side of Adam must be interpreted literally, but someone linked to an article by a theologian who argued that it is a teaching of the Church.

If Eve was conceived normally, she'd just be the second person to receive an immortal soul. If the Bible's account is literal, then there's no reason God couldn't have created her from Adam, through a miracle, and given her the same physical form as what He had created through evolution.

In that other thread, I mentioned the possibility that Adam and Eve may not have been Homo sapiens, but some earlier species, which would mean that the other species of Homo, including neanderthalensis, would be fully human and would have a chance at heaven. If Adam and Eve were Homo sapiens, then the other species did not have immortal souls and would be little different than animals.

The Neanderthals died out around 25-30,000 years ago. Maybe Adam and Eve existed after this? There have been people who have added up all the lifetimes given in the bible, and come up with around 4-6,000 years. Maybe the numbers in the Bible are accurate, and the creation of man, a being with an immortal soul, is far more recent. Science might be able to tell us how our bodies got here, but it can't measure the soul.

 

[artnalex]

I don't think it is possible for an ape to evovle into a man, as they are two different animals. Someone smarter than me can correct me, but an animal can evolve within its species, but not outside of it. In other words, a man can evolve into another typoe of man,but an elephant cannot evolve into a tiger, as they are two separet species.

Also, if we did evolve from apes then why are there still apes? Further, why aren't some people still in the middle of that evolutionary process. By that I mean, why don't we some people who still have fur, but are starting to look like a human.

I don't believe man evolved from an ape or a chimp or a tiger.

 

[RhetorTheo]

I don't think it is possible for an ape to evovle into a man, as they are two different animals. Someone smarter than me can correct me, but an animal can evolve within its species, but not outside of it. In other words, a man can evolve into another typoe of man,but an elephant cannot evolve into a tiger, as they are two separet species.

Also, if we did evolve from apes then why are there still apes? Further, why aren't some people still in the middle of that evolutionary process. By that I mean, why don't we some people who still have fur, but are starting to look like a human.

I don't believe man evolved from an ape or a chimp or a tiger.

One species can evolve into another, but humans did not evolve from monkeys. Monkeys and humans share a common ancestor. Some say that humans are "great apes," but we did not evolve from any species that is currently alive; we share a common ancestor with several still alive.

 

[Bushido216]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/

Art, your knowledge of evolution is really lacking. I could try and explain my corrections to you and but it would require that you have alot of background knowledge that you simply don't have. I suggest reading that site and then this:

http://www.talkorigins.org

A response to a few of your questions, taken from TO's Index, because I'm feeling nice:
"Incomplete Creatures" : http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CB/CB925.html
Barriers to Large Change: http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CB/CB902_1.html
As a note, evolution doesn't predict that one species currently extant will evolve into another extant species. Again, I refer you to the PBS site and your local library for more information.

As to why there are still other types of apes. Evolutionary theory doesn't predict or require that only one branch in an evolutionary split remains alive. Infact, even Answers in Genesis warns against using this arguement : http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/dont_use.asp (9th bullet point down).

 

[Truth and Reconciliation]

There is still inconsistent proof that we did evolve from apes. We DO know for a fact that our flesh bodies are primates. But that is irrelevant, since we'll be granted new bodies once we enter Heaven.

 

[artnalex]

Art, your knowledge of evolution is really lacking.

Yes, it is. I admit as much. In fact, that is why I stated that someone may come along and correct me. What little knowledge I have came from reading some Catholic sites on this subject.

No need for me to quibble with you as I am sure your knowledge is greater than mine.

I still don't think we evolved from apes, nor have I ever read anything that would seem definitive either.

I'm glad you guys are here to set the record straight.

So did we eveolve from apes? Or not?

 

[artnalex]

By the way, Bushido, I'll check out those sites. Thanks for being so charitable in your reponses. God bless you.

 

[frettr00]

Yes, I believe in evolving from apes Adam and Eve would've been the first homosapiens, those at an evolutionary point which are intelligent and capable enough for God to use for his plan and also have souls.

 

[InnerPhyre]

Adam and Eve were the first people to whom God gave souls. The problem with saying they were the first homosapiens is that evolution doesn't just jump like that. It's such a gradual process that you couldn't have one generation and say....ok the parents are homo erectus and the next generation is homo sapiens. There's always an in between point.

 

[Cecilia]

WE DID NOT EVOLVE FROM APES. That is my opinion. God made apes and humans seperate species. End of story. Evolution is the most-taught scientific theory in today's public high school but amazingly enough, it does not even fit the critiria for a theory. A theory must be able to be proven again and again using an exact experiment. There has never been a repeatable experiment to prove evolution from apes actually occured. Hence, evolution in itself is our sick way of seperating God from our lives when we should be connecting through him.

Otherwise, I believe in Theistic Evolution which means there were original humans but God gave them the "push" they needed to become an intellectual and sophisticated species. So yes, some evolution did occur, but not from apes to humans.

 

[InnerPhyre]

Evolution is pretty hard to deny. Look at the profile comparison on these transitional skulls. How can this be explained any way other than evolution?

 

[princess_ballet]

Evolution is the most-taught scientific theory in today's public high school

Way to exaggerate.

You know how many times I learned about it in school? Twice. And that was because I took Biology at the high school level and then AP Biology.

While I admit it wasn't really presented as a theory, that was because my teacher was a leftist. And we corrected her on many topics.

But I wouldn't say that it is over-taught.

 

[Anthony]

If Adam and Eve where the lucky winners to receive the first souls, than what about the other evolutees?

Did God come back and give all other evolution people souls also?

If there were others, then we are not all part of Adam and Eve's line.

 

[Paul S]

If Adam and Eve where the lucky winners to receive the first souls, than what about the other evolutees?

Did God come back and give all other evolution people souls also?

If there were others, then we are not all part of Adam and Eve's line.

No, the others wouldn't have had immortal souls.

Doesn't the Bible mention other people later, including the Nephilim?

 

[Anthony]

No, the others wouldn't have had immortal souls.

Doesn't the Bible mention other people later, including the Nephilim?

What happen those evolutee who didn't get immortal souls?

They must have all died in the flood?

I guess we are all descendants of Noah?

 

[kayanne]

Evolution is pretty hard to deny. Look at the profile comparison on these transitional skulls. How can this be explained any way other than evolution?



http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/comdesc/images/hominids2_big.jpg

What is it about these various skulls that convinces you that each evolved from the previous type? Is it possible that they were distinct but similar species, or mutations within species, or variations within species? I haven't been a science class for quite a while now, so I don't claim to have a wealth of knowledge on this subject. I just know that when I went to your link, it didn't convince me of anything.
In fact, haven't scientists determined that "Lucy" (the well preserved skeletal fossil found in recent years--australopithcenes or something like that) could not have been the ancestor of humans?

respectfully, kayanne

 

[Paul S]

If you take the flood literally, then yes, they would have died in the flood.

 

[Dream]

What is it about these various skulls that convinces you that each evolved from the previous type? Is it possible that they were distinct but similar species, or mutations within species, or variations within species? I haven't been a science class for quite a while now, so I don't claim to have a wealth of knowledge on this subject. I just know that when I went to your link, it didn't convince me of anything.
In fact, haven't scientists determined that "Lucy" (the well preserved skeletal fossil found in recent years--australopithcenes or something like that) could not have been the ancestor of humans?

respectfully, kayanne

I'm sure Bushido will fill you in with the details. He seems to be the expert on evolution here.

 

[bigsierra]

LUCY was spread out over a large area also.

I don't believe man came from a monkey or had the same ancestor.

There are a few people that make me curious about their origin though