Homo Sapiens, Neanderthals and the Creation Book

by Thirdson 10 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Thirdson

  This quote is from the BBC's web site:

  The results, they say, indicate that Neanderthals made little or no contribution to the genes of modern humans.

  Out of Africa

  The mitochondrial DNA of the two ancient species were very different, claims the study.

  "This discontinuity is difficult to reconcile with the hypothesis that both Neanderthals and early anatomically modern humans contributed to the current European gene pool."

  The finding supports the theory that the "anatomically modern human" arose in Africa some 150,000 years ago and dispersed, displacing the Neanderthals on the way.

  It is a blow to the "multi-regional" theory, in which some interbreeding between Neanderthal and early humans is thought to have taken place.

  See this link for the fill report:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3023685.stm

  Ignoring the dating issue, this still poses a problem for the Watchtower's Creation Book theory that hominids found in the fossil record are either fully human (homo sapiens), merely variations of modern human albeit pre-flood ones (Neanderthals included) -- or are fully higher order ape and not human. The difference between hominid finds and modern humans, are according to the Watchtower writers, no different than the current anatomical variations between races or variations in physical size in today's human population. Based on this evidence reported, the Watchtower writers would have to claim that Neanderthals are not human at all, were not "created in God's image" and are merely a lower order of mammalian life. The fact that they share many anatomical features and cultural similarities to modern humans would have to be dismissed and Neanderthals regarded as one of God's experiments prior to creating Adam and Eve. Alternatively, the writers could just keep quiet and hope that JWs don't think about the problems with news reports like the above quote.

  Is the Watchtower's dismissal of modern anthropology and genetics any different to the Catholic church's rejection of the cosmology of Copernicus and Galileo?

  Thirdson
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  TheOldHippie

  Good question; if I get you correctly (these damned foreigners are slow, you know ...), you point out that outwardly very similar creatures may be very different when it comes to their gene pool (is that the word?), whereas outwardly very different-looking creatures may be very similar "inside".

  So rather smaller outward variances such as between Cro-Magnons, Neanderthals and Moderns may be no argument, because they "differ inside". Now THAT's a heavy one!
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  Thirdson

  Hello, Old Hippie,

  :you point out that outwardly very similar creatures may be very different when it comes to their gene pool (is that the word?), whereas outwardly very different-looking creatures may be very similar "inside".

  That is partly my point. Neanderthals are human but modern humans are not related by descent. We share a common ancester but that is much further back in time. Neanderthals are very similar to modern humans, used tools and had a culture. Watchtower writers have previously pointed out that Neanderthals are not the bent over hulking ape-like creatures they were once depicted to be and are a branch of humans (because of culture, tool use and anatomy) that no longer exists and by implication are descendants of Adam of Genesis. This view of Neanderthals is incorrect if modern humans and Neanderthals are not from the same gene pool. Neanderthals predate modern humans and thus predate mythical Adam.

  mfg

  Thirdson
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  Farkel

  Thirdson,

  : Ignoring the dating issue, this still poses a problem for the Watchtower's Creation Book theory that hominids found in the fossil record are either fully human (homo sapiens), merely variations of modern human albeit pre-flood ones (Neanderthals included) -- or are fully higher order ape and not human.

  Surely you're not surprised at that, are you? Don't you know the official Watchtower definition of "Science?"

  "Science" - making up stuff as needed

  Farkel
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  Realist

  the point is....neandethals far more different genetically from humans than what could be explained by a few single muations. often it was claimed that neanderthals just were individuals with genetic defects...but this sequence data excludes that possibility.
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  hooberus

  Here is some info from a non-watchtower creationist organization

  http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs/4218tj_v12n1.asp
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  badboy

  Perhaps if they say that Neanderthals R pre-Adam,say `explain please Y there is evidence of a genetic contribution from male Neanderthals,red hair is believed 2 have originated from the Neanderthals.
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  badboy

  That answers in Genisis article is a bit contradictory in that it says the Neanderthal DNA might have been contamined,but how came the DNA is different from modern human DNA.
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  peacefulpete

  test
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  funkyderek

  That answers in Genisis article is a bit contradictory

  Hehe, there's a surprise! The address of the website tells us they're not interested in objective truth, only in matching things up with what their holy book says. Sometimes you have to really hammer that square peg in!