How Does The Bible Account For Neanderthals (hell, quote, God)
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There is absolutely no question that Neanderthals lived between 38,000 and 45,000 years ago. There is no question based upon the fossil record or DNA analysis that they constituted a separate species from modern humans yet were so genetically close that there is rather conclusive evidence that humans and Neanderthals interbred.
So, if Neanderthals were the second youngest species of homo sapiens who may have had all of the mental attributes of early man, this would require that "God" created a number of species in his own image, yet there is no mention of this in the Bible, unless we can only deduce that Adam and Eve were not homo sapiens after all but some earlier version of the genus Homo.
I always figured Adam and Eve to be about the first Homo Sapiens.
Neanderthals were simpley the product of evolution. It would appear that God intervened with the creation of the first humans. Or so the theology goes.
So no, the bible doesn't address Neanderthals. Remember that the Bible's focus is on God and humans and the relationship thereof. Neanderthals and dinosaurs are not relavent in this case.
There is absolutely no question that Neanderthals lived between 38,000 and 45,000 years ago. There is no question based upon the fossil record or DNA analysis that they constituted a separate species from modern humans yet were so genetically close that there is rather conclusive evidence that humans and Neanderthals interbred.
So, if Neanderthals were the second youngest species of homo sapiens who may have had all of the mental attributes of early man, this would require that "God" created a number of species in his own image, yet there is no mention of this in the Bible, unless we can only deduce that Adam and Eve were not homo sapiens after all but some earlier version of the genus Homo.
I have no expectation of Neanderthal being written about in the bible because there was no knowledge of the evolution of man much less neanderthal. I do believe that ancient man wrote according to his understanding. If you take the bible as literally true then I don't know how the question is answered but if you don't take the bible to be literally word for word true then this question is not problematic.
I believe the Neandertheals existed, but were a slightly different species..I don't know if there is evidence that they existed at the same time that what we consider "modern man" did.
I am not a bible literalist (meaning I do not believe everything written there actually happened)amd so I have no problem with the fossil records which I find extremely fascinating..
"God created man in His own image".
Take a look at a Neanderthal. That's how God looks; squat, hairy, big mouth, and holding a club. Could be that this is why it's so difficult to communicate with him, he understands only grunts.
I believe the Neandertheals existed, but were a slightly different species..I don't know if there is evidence that they existed at the same time that what we consider "modern man" did.
I am not a bible literalist (meaning I do not believe everything written there actually happened)amd so I have no problem with the fossil records which I find extremely fascinating..
Yes, the Neanderthals existed at the same time as modern humans. (This simple fact gave author Jean Auel the idea for The Clan of the Cave Bear and the rest of the Earth's Children series that followed!) They are a separate branch; we are not descended from them. Their bodies were built to survive during the ice age. We don't appear until near the end of the last ice age.
The Neanderthals are human, contrary to what someone above posted. They were also homo sapiens. They lived in social and hunted large game in groups, cooked with fire, and were the first known to bury their dead with flowers. However, their weapons and tools and artwork changed very little over tens of thousands of years, unlike modern man, who continually invented new ways of doing things.
"God created man in His own image".
Take a look at a Neanderthal. That's how God looks; squat, hairy, big mouth, and holding a club. Could be that this is why it's so difficult to communicate with him, he understands only grunts.
That explains why my ex-husband thought he was god.
So no, the bible doesn't address Neanderthals. Remember that the Bible's focus is on God and humans and the relationship thereof. Neanderthals and dinosaurs are not relavent in this case.
I always figured Adam and Eve to be about the first Homo Sapiens. Neanderthals were simpley the product of evolution.It would appear that God intervened with the creation of the first humans.
And homo sapien sapiens were the product of spontaneous combustion? Is this some new creationist construction, evolution with periodic intelligent design?
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So no, the bible doesn't address Neanderthals. Remember that the Bible's focus is on God and humans and the relationship thereof. Neanderthals and dinosaurs are not relavent in this case.
Why wouldn't it? Clearly Neanderthals existed alongside modern humans. The evidence is clear that modern humans interbred with Neanderthals. If god was so concerned about homosexuality (as some proclaim) then one would expect a word here and there about sleeping with Neanderthals.
Well, there is that thing about slaying the 'giants'. Then another thing about whether or not to slay the other tribes; one or two of which could have been remnant populations of Neanderthals. And maybe there were a couple of Neanderthals left unmurdered when David slew Goliath. Neanderthals were supposedly unable to ideate projectiles....and here was David with a projectile.
I always assumed that 'giants' were Scandic types. And right this minute, people from the Middle East and Northern Africa..."The Lands of the Bible"... are moving into Northern Europe, and finishing off the last remaining giant Blonds (Swedish girls are dying their hair black, in the hopes of not being targeted for gang-rape). But maybe the Bible was talking about Neanderthals, instead.
Anyway, considering the endless evil that book (along with its spinoffs from the various militaristic, absolutist, patriarchal, Mosaic religions) has been used to justify, I refuse to believe it is 'the word of' the G-- I know and love.
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