thank you for a nice discussion -homo sapiens were around for about 100,000 years or so before Moses-homo neanderthals were around for longer but left about 30,000 years ago-Same genus different species-
we will never know will we vis a vie “made in my image and likeness” and whether they had souls or not
Can we be sure that Neanderthals are not the work of Hollywood fiction writers ?I think we can, since their tools, bones and firepits and many other proofs have been found by archaelogists and paleontologists. There’s plenty of proof of their existence, including many intact bones and skulls, which show a clear difference between the Neandethals and modern Homo Sapiens. Who says God couldn’t create 2, 3, 4 or more physical forms of humans??? And, all of these “sub-species” of humans were widely separated in spatial terms (lived in very different areas or even different continents at different times == some of them thousands of years apart in time. They could be variations based upon environment and other stressor factors. After all, there are plenty of dinosaur bones around, some complete skeletons, just as there are complete skeletons. The one woman found, whom I mentioned earlier, was a Neanderthal woman found in a living site cave (a home cave of Neanderthals) in France, with flowers and other objects in her grave. Since they had covered the body with dirt and then a lot of stones in the back of the cave, and apparently as part of her burial ceremony, they built a large bonfire on top of the grave, the heat caused her to mummify, so they have a complete skeleton there. She was between 30 -35 years of age, teeth very worn, most gone, and apparently was quite old for her people. Life was tough in the Ice Age, and other skeletons found show that they began having babies at about 11 years of age, since skeletons of girls of that age with a complete fetus inside have been found. It is theorized that their extra large heads caused many problems with child birth, frequently killing the mother without being able to deliver the child. Might even be the reason they died out – their skulls got too large for them to continue as a viable group.Can we be sure that Neanderthals are not the work of Hollywood fiction writers ?
Thank you for such a well informed response …Actually, God didn’t need to “create” different species of humans. Take any group of humans, isolate them in a jungle, or an arctic environment for several thousand years, and between inbreeding and environment, they will develop some unique characteristics. Perhaps the Neanderthals, and others were merely groups of humans who developed specific characteristics, with slightly different DNA (redheads and blondes are both recessive genes in our DNA). I think all true “humans” developed, although perhaps looking differently, as a result of Adam and Eve being created. They did live a very long time, according to Genesis, and probably had an awful lot of children!! Those children spread out, and differentiated according to environment, the particular stresses made upon them by their environments: darker skin in hot countries, lighter skin in colder climates, etc… All are still human. I think the idea of “race” came about due to these changes, necessitated by environment and isolation, which caused the differences we now have. But all are still the children of Adam and Eve. As far as I know, so were the Neanderthals. Did they have souls? If they were human, descended from Adam and Eve, they must certainly have had souls, since God gave them souls.
Your response is appreciated ....Your most welcome!! I’ve run into these questions among friends in Church. Since I have followed archaeology and paleontology since my late teens (no college degree in either), I’ve read a lot about it, and thought a lot about it. After 50 years, I know enough to respond to another non-professional. Anyone who is an educated expert in the subject would probably blow me away! It is an interesting subject, and is one of my secret hobbies!
Well my secret hobby is astronomy...... Have been following it for ever...and still know very little.... I loose myself in the depths of the subject... It is just an amazing subject..
I'm sometimes amazed by the lack of General basic knowledge concerning the wonders of the earth and the wider universe.... I have a sister in law that still believes the universe is only about 6000 years.... So it's great to meet someone like yourself....Well if you enjoy history then you would have appreciated coming with us yesterday,Well, I don’t know much about astronomy, but can understand how fascinating it is. I do know the Universe is at least quite a few million years old, though! She must have learned the Jewish Calendar, and thinks that’s how old the whole Universe is!! LOL
It’s nice to have hobbies/interests outside our normal work. I was a teacher and a Nurse, but my “curiosity bump” was born bigger than my head!! I love ancient civilizations, ancient history, and a lot of other things I never “formally” studied, but have spent years learning about. Isn’t it great to learn things and they just make you more in awe of God and what He created??
Amazing… you must have enough experience to write a book…My Grandma was a midwife for about 35 years, then became a Registered Nurse and worked private practice caring for elderly in their homes until she retired at 89! Lived to be 104 years, 29 days!
I started with ER, then coma and brain damaged patients, changed to Geriatrics, and finally found my “niche” as a Terminal Care/Hospice Nurse. Had 1 1/2 Halls that were all terminally ill, and loved working with them. They need a lot of one-on-one care, need time to talk to someone, need a caregiver/Nurse who is willing to let them talk out their fears and angers, and then to find a spiritual Minister or Priest to help them as well. The families also needed a lot of attention and comforting. I did this work for about 12 1/2 years, until I became disabled permanently from a patient throwing me. I have 4 cracked vertebrae, had a fractured patella (kneecap) and the finishing touch was the toss from a patient which crushed 3" of my tibia, which can’t be repaired. Held together with arthritis!! LOL! I had to retire when I was 69, and spent the last year in a full hip to ankle cast caring for my terminally ill husband, until he also died.