Neanderthal Species Distinct From Humans
For many years young earth ministries have claimed that
Neanderthals were modern humans. However, new evidence shows
that they should in fact be a separate species, which died out,
and did not contribute to the gene pool of present-day humanity.
In a story reported in late January 2004, scientists did a
detailed computer analysis of human and Neanderthal skulls,
comparing the variations with the variations of sub-species of
apes. (Footnote 1) The computer analysis showed that the
differences measured between modern humans and Neanderthals were
significantly greater than those found between subspecies of
living monkeys and apes. According to the scientists, this makes
the case that Neanderthals should be considered as a separate
species. Implications for Creation Theory If Neanderthals are a
separate species from humans, and not just a sub-species, what
are the implications for the various forms of creationist
thought? Here is a summary. Progressive Creationists -
Progressive creationists believe in an old earth, but do not
believe in evolution. Each species was a specific creation of
God, and did not subsequently evolve into other species.
Neanderthals can be considered a separate, created species,
which did not evolve from previous species, and became extinct
29,000 years ago. As such, they were not created in the image of
God (Adam being the first some 6,000 to 10,000 years ago), and
did not have a soul. Theistic Evolutionists - Theistic
evolutionists believe in an old earth, and claim that God used
evolutionary processes to finally arrive at today's species.
Neanderthals can be considered one of the branches of hominids
that evolved, but due to natural selection died out about 29,000
years ago. Gap Theorists - Gap theorists believe that there was
an older, created world, in between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. This
old world was replaced by God during the creation week account
of Genesis. Acceptance of evolutionary principles varies.
Neanderthals can be considered created by either evolution or
special creation, which died out 29,000 years ago, or before the
old world was replaced with the new one. For the three main
forms of old earth belief, Neanderthal presents no problems.
However, it does present problems for young earth creationists.
The fact that Neanderthals died out 29,000 years ago, 23,000
years before they claim the earth was created, cannot be
reconciled with the Genesis account of creation. They tell their
followers that the dating evidence for Neanderthal is flawed;
however it is only young-earth creationists who dispute
this...no reputable scientist disputes these ages. This is not
to say that many young-earth scientists are not reputable in
other fields, it only means that they are blinded to the truth
by their presupposition that the earth is young.
A separate Neanderthal species, not an ancestor to modern man,
destroys the young earth claims that Neanderthal was a human
with an eternal soul. You may be saying that this skull evidence
is only the conclusions of scientists, and other scientists
could conclude otherwise. I agree. However, there is hard
evidence that is irrefutable...analysis of Neanderthal and
modern man DNA concludes that Neanderthal did not contribute to
the DNA of modern man. (Footnote 2) Conclusion More research
needs to be done to separate Neanderthal to a species distinct
from Homo Sapiens. However, enough evidence is available to
disprove young-earth claims that Neanderthal was human.
1 CNN Article (http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/01/26/n
eanderthals.ancestor.reut/index.html) 2 Nature.com Article
(http://www.natu
re.com/nature/fow/000330.html)