Are There "Races" of People?

[Richard Aberdeen]

Up until recently, science divided humanity into three supposed distinct "races". But since the decoding of the human genome, modern science has conclusively proven that on a biological genetic level, there is no such thing as race. Rather, the idea of race is a cultural construct, a myth that has no basis in evidence or reality.

Perceived differences in populations are caused primarily by climate, diet and reproductive mixing among various populations, along with lesser influences such as famine, war and other violence, human migration and generational cultural indoctrination. But most unfortunately, this hasn't rid our planet of the ugliness, irrationality and often violent results of racism.

The Bible doesn't mention race except in one disputed instance in Zachariah. Many scholars believe this to be a mistranslation of the KJV and that Zachariah 9:6 is referring to a particularly wicked people or culture, rather than race; the Hebrew literally means "an illegitimate one". Suffice it to say, the Bible completely and entirely destroys any foolish notion of racism in the book of Revelation (see below).

If a thousand people from all over the globe were to stand naked side-by-side, one could easily discern that there is no such thing as a Black or White person. Rather, ALL of us are 'people of color', somewhere in-between the two extremes. Can we rationally dispute that certain colors of roses are somehow superior to other roses? And no doubt some of the most beautiful of roses are of mixed coloration. Quite obviously, our Creator enjoys variety.

Revelation 7:9-10: After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands and, crying out with a loud voice, saying, 'salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and, to the Lamb!'"

And Acts 17:26 says the following: "He made every nation of humans of one (Greek "henos"; meaning one, unity or singularity), to live upon all the face of the earth." Some translate "henos" as 'one blood', but that is not an accurate translation. Rather, we modern humans are a unified population of common ancestry, tracing back through Noah to Adam.

Scientific American: Recent Common Ancestor
https://www.scientificamerican.com/arti ... nly-think/

From Nature: "These analyses suggest that the genealogies of all living humans overlap in remarkable ways in the recent past. In particular, the MRCA of all present-day humans lived just a few thousand years ago in these models. Moreover, among all individuals living more than just a few thousand years earlier than the MRCA, each present-day human has exactly the same set of genealogical ancestors."

Nature: Recent Common Ancestor
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature02842

Most Recent Ancestor of Modern Humans Surprisingly Recent
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2 ... 122428.htm

From Wikipedia: "The identical ancestors point for Homo sapiens has been the subject of debate. In 2003 Rohde estimated it to be between 5000 and 15,000 years ago. In 2004, Rohde, Olson and Chang showed through simulations that, given the false assumption of random mate choice without geographic barriers, the identical ancestors point for all humans would be surprisingly recent, on the order of 5,000 to 15,000 years ago.

"Ralph and Coop (2013), considering the European population and working from genetics, came to similar conclusions for the recent common ancestry of Europeans. More recently, however, researchers have estimated the European isopoint to be closer to 1000 AD."

Wikipedia: Identical Ancestors Point
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identical_ancestors_point

The genealogy of Jesus, who is of mixed ancestry tracing to Adam in Luke, is accurate as far as science knows. This genealogy of Jesus utterly destroys any and every foolish notion of racism. Jesus died for all people, regardless of who are what we are II Corinthians 5:15.

These four links explain why natural selection and materialistic science is not remotely correct:

Unknown to Darwin: Overwhelming Complexity of Living Cells
https://www.esalq.usp.br/lepse/imgs/con ... e-Cell.pdf

Directly Contradicts Darwin: DNA Mutations Not Random
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2 ... 121512.htm

Darwinism Does Not Match Modern Evidence


Eternal Creator the Only Rational Explanation

[The Barbarian]

Today, there are no biological human races. The Human Genome Project shows that there is more genetic variation within any "race" you could define, than there is between them. Races exist only as cultural constructs, not biological entities.

That wasn't always the case. Neanderthals, Denisovans, and anatomically modern humans were all races of H. sapiens, according to most scientists.

[Richard Aberdeen]

[Replying to The Barbarian in post #2]

"According to most scientists" has no meaning in regards to the truth. Most scientists used to believe the earth is at the center of our solar system. Most scientists used to believe there are seven "races" of people. Later, most scientists had whittled these down to three. Now most scientists say there is no such thing as race.

The Bible says that we are one human community, the human race. The Bible had it right from the beginning.

[The Barbarian]

[Replying to The Barbarian in post #2]

"According to most scientists" has no meaning in regards to the truth. Most scientists used to believe the earth is at the center of our solar system. Most scientists used to believe there are seven "races" of people. Later, most scientists had whittled these down to three. Now most scientists say there is no such thing as race.

In science, evidence counts, not opinions. Since there is more genetic variation within human "races" than there is between "races", we know there are no biological human races. But into the 1990s, YE creationists were still blathering about the supposed intelletual and spiritual inferiority of black people:

“Yet the prophecy again has its obverse side. Somehow, they have only gone so far and no further. The Japhethites and Semites have, sooner or later, taken over their territories and their inventions, and then developed them and utilized them for their own enlargement. Often the Hamites, especially the Negroes, have become actual personal servants or even slaves to the others. Possessed of a genetic character concerned mainly with mundane matters, they were eventually displaced by the intellectual and philosophical acumen of the Japhethites and the religious zeal of the Semites.”...Neither Negroes nor any other Hamitic people were intended to be forcibly subjugated on the basis of this Noah declaration. The prophecy would be inevitably fulfilled because of the innate natures of the three genetic stocks, not by virtue of any artificial constraints imposed by man.”
Young Earth Creationist, Henry Morris The Beginning of the World

I'm not saying that all YE creationists are racists today. Many, if not most are not. Many of them have rejected the racist foundations of YE creationism. But many others have not.

The Bible says that we are one human community, the human race. The Bible had it right from the beginning.

I'm glad you realize this. I wish many of your fellow YECs realized it as well.

[Clownboat]

"According to most scientists" has no meaning in regards to the truth.

Readers, note how Richard Aberdeen has confused the Human Genome Project with scientists.
The Human Genome Project shows that there is more genetic variation within any "race" you could define, than there is between them.

Most scientists used to believe the earth is at the center of our solar system.

Ad hominem. Please show your work and then explain what that has to do with Races of people.

Most scientists used to believe there are seven "races" of people. Later, most scientists had whittled these down to three. Now most scientists say there is no such thing as race.

Ad hominem. Religions are dogmatic. Scientific theories can be modified as more information is obtained. This is a strength for the method we call science, not an argument against it.

The Bible says that we are one human community, the human race. The Bible had it right from the beginning.

We are discussing Races of people. The Bible is not an authority on such things. The Bible is religious promotional material.