Why did God create Neanderthals?

[Cmass]

There is evidence that suggests Homosapiens and Neanderthals lived in the same time, region and perhaps even competed for the same food sources. They had some form of culture and a slightly larger brain capacity. Although there is scant evidence of it, it is plausible they even had religion.

So, here is a creature very much like our ancient selves in many ways - yet now considered a distinct species - and God either allowed or ushered in their demise. An entire species of intelligent beings!!! Why?

Did God kill off the Neanderthals? If so, why?

What does the Bible have to offer on this topic?

[Cmass]

QED wrote:

Ah, yes -- I've always been curious but I've never been able to get anything down on paper that would stand up to the kind of peer review that stands in the way of such publications today.

That is because you have been submitting to the wrong peers.

Cathar wrote:

The thread topic itself open questions. 'Why did God create Neanderthals?' Is seeming to assume that God created them and this open the door for all possible gods.

In many of my OPs I assume Bible God is real and is the God we are dealing with. Based upon that assumption I enjoy debate on the ramifications of some aspects of that belief. In this case, we are dealing with a humanoid creature that was likely a different species. This is a big deal on many levels, both scientific and religious. I am curious as to how this knowledge is reconciled by some Christians.
Micatala has taken the easy route out - sort of - by stating the Bible is very much a creation of the time in which it was written and since they did not have access to this information it is not particularly important to the overall message of Christ. (He did not explain it that way but I am assuming this would be part of it if we went further) This, of course, has huge implications in other debates - especially some going on with Biker, Easyrider and Katiej49. (I doubt Katie is comfortable in the science section of the forum)

[micatala]

Humans wrote about the creation of the earth because they were curious about how it all came to be.

Ah, yes -- I've always been curious but I've never been able to get anything down on paper that would stand up to the kind of peer review that stands in the way of such publications today.

I know what you mean. Why do you think I end up writing for this outfit?
At least if I am rejected by my peers it still stays on the forum.

The account in the Bible is based entirely on things that would have been within their experience, embellished by imaginatively combining such aspects in some cases (e.g. talking snakes).

OK, so are you saying that the Bible is something that could be put together in any age, with any level of knowledge -- because it answers the really big questions essentially with guess-work?

I would say mostly yes, except that not all the questions get answered completely, and there is more to it than guess work. A lot of things are left undiscussed. A lot of the answers come in the form of parables, or even almost riddles. There are paradoxes. There are ambiguities. Such is the nature of life and morality.

[seventil]

There is evidence that suggests Homosapiens and Neanderthals lived in the same time, region and perhaps even competed for the same food sources. They had some form of culture and a slightly larger brain capacity. Although there is scant evidence of it, it is plausible they even had religion.

So, here is a creature very much like our ancient selves in many ways - yet now considered a distinct species - and God either allowed or ushered in their demise. An entire species of intelligent beings!!! Why?

Did God kill off the Neanderthals? If so, why?

What does the Bible have to offer on this topic?

I'd like to point out that this question is flawed in a few ways;

First, it makes the assumption of a literal translation of the Genesis account.

Second, it disregards any thought of theistic evolution or Old Earth theories.

Thirdly, it makes an assumption that God did allow or "usher" them into their demise, which has no Biblical or reasonable evidence that I can find to it.

So, to answer your question, I'm not sure what happened to the Neanderthals. I'll get Dr. Brown on the line and borrow his Delorian.

[Cmass]

Seventil wrote:

I'd like to point out that this question is flawed in a few ways;

Please do! It's about time another Christian entered this thread.

Seventil wrote:

First, it makes the assumption of a literal translation of the Genesis account.

I purposely left out any referral to any portion of the Bible including Genesis. From my OP:
What does the Bible have to offer on this topic? I would also like to know what you think of this question. If you think my OP requires that one believe in the literal definition of Genesis then I take that as part of your answer. If it is part of your answer then why does it require a literal belief in Genesis?

Seventil wrote:

Second, it disregards any thought of theistic evolution or Old Earth theories.

No, once again, I did not make any assumptions. Read the OP again.

Thirdly, it makes an assumption that God did allow or "usher" them into their demise, which has no Biblical or reasonable evidence that I can find to it.

Did God allow it to happen? If so, can you link it to anything in the Bible. Or, please speculate as to why God allowed it.
Did God have a hand in speeding up the process of their demise? If so, is there anything in the Bible that may indicate why or how this might have happened? Or, speculate as to why.
If "no" to the above questions, why do you think there is no information about them? I think the fact that we had a distinct species of human-like creatures that lived on the planet longer than we have been around is a profound thing, don't you?
Seventil wrote:

So, to answer your question, I'm not sure what happened to the Neanderthals. I'll get Dr. Brown on the line and borrow his Delorian.

Is that your final answer?
_________________

[4gold]

There is evidence that suggests Homosapiens and Neanderthals lived in the same time, region and perhaps even competed for the same food sources. They had some form of culture and a slightly larger brain capacity. Although there is scant evidence of it, it is plausible they even had religion.

So, here is a creature very much like our ancient selves in many ways - yet now considered a distinct species - and God either allowed or ushered in their demise. An entire species of intelligent beings!!! Why?

Did God kill off the Neanderthals? If so, why?

What does the Bible have to offer on this topic?

I have a question that may or may not be on topic.

Have we discovered any genetic link between Neanderthal and man? I admit my reseach on this is only dated through 2006, but as of last year, there was absolutely no genetic link between man and Neanderthal. In fact, the studies indicated that Neanderthals were much more closely related to apes.

So, if there is no connection, then I guess I do not understand the religious implication of Neanderthals. They were another animal species that are now extinct.

If there is a genetic link, then I have no idea why God would create Neanderthals. I guess the way I view the Creation story is that God used Evolution as his means of creating diversity of life.

[MikeH]

Did God kill off the Neanderthals? If so, why?

Why would you assume that God killed them off? They could have just died for a number of different natural reasons.

[Cathar1950]

Did God kill off the Neanderthals? If so, why?

Why would you assume that God killed them off? They could have just died for a number of different natural reasons.

Is someone saying it wasn't in God's plans?
In the area where the OT was written a few thounsand years before they mistook the begining it seems our species and the Neanderthals lived side by side. It seems like nothing of myth survived about them unless they were the children of Cain but they should have been killed in the flood. Yet Cain's children are still around during the Time of Moses according to the writings when they were produced hundreds of years later. The editor or redactor left the story in and didn't cover the tracks.
Of course the people of ancient Sumer said the gods combined their image with a creature that was already here.

[MikeH]

Is someone saying it wasn't in God's plans?
In the area where the OT was written a few thounsand years before they mistook the begining it seems our species and the Neanderthals lived side by side. It seems like nothing of myth survived about them unless they were the children of Cain but they should have been killed in the flood. Yet Cain's children are still around during the Time of Moses according to the writings when they were produced hundreds of years later. The editor or redactor left the story in and didn't cover the tracks.
Of course the people of ancient Sumer said the gods combined their image with a creature that was already here.

If you're referring to the "sons of men" or nephilim in genesis, then these are definitely not the sons of cain. While this is a widely held belief, a more thorough look shows that the Bible is implying something much more similar to the Sumer legend you mention, of which similar myths exist in almost every culture. Believe it or not, the Bible is pretty clear that these "sons of men" are the offspring of fallen angels and human women.

[Goat]

Is someone saying it wasn't in God's plans?
In the area where the OT was written a few thounsand years before they mistook the begining it seems our species and the Neanderthals lived side by side. It seems like nothing of myth survived about them unless they were the children of Cain but they should have been killed in the flood. Yet Cain's children are still around during the Time of Moses according to the writings when they were produced hundreds of years later. The editor or redactor left the story in and didn't cover the tracks.
Of course the people of ancient Sumer said the gods combined their image with a slegend you mention, of which similar myths exist in almost every culture. Believe it or not, the Bible is pretty clear that these "sons of men" are the offspring of fallen angels and human women.

Only if you accept the Christian concept of angels, and not the Jewish concept. Both concepts were hundreds of years after. The Jewish faith does not have the concept of 'fallen angels' at all.

[Cathar1950]

Is someone saying it wasn't in God's plans?
In the area where the OT was written a few thounsand years before they mistook the begining it seems our species and the Neanderthals lived side by side. It seems like nothing of myth survived about them unless they were the children of Cain but they should have been killed in the flood. Yet Cain's children are still around during the Time of Moses according to the writings when they were produced hundreds of years later. The editor or redactor left the story in and didn't cover the tracks.
Of course the people of ancient Sumer said the gods combined their image with a slegend you mention, of which similar myths exist in almost every culture. Believe it or not, the Bible is pretty clear that these "sons of men" are the offspring of fallen angels and human women.

Only if you accept the Christian concept of angels, and not the Jewish concept. Both concepts were hundreds of years after. The Jewish faith does not have the concept of 'fallen angels' at all.

I think one of the books of Enoch are the myths written in the second or third century BCE where you get the half man half angels but Sumers myths say they were complaining because they wanted to join the gods.
I don't think Neanderthals were angels or Cain's offspring.
It is myth.