Look up the topic of human evolution in many textbooks and encyclopedias and you will see a series of pictures—on one side a stooped, apelike creature followed by creatures that have progressively more upright posture and larger heads. At the end stands modern man. Such renderings along with sensational media reports of the discovery of so-called missing links give the impression that there is ample evidence that man evolved from apelike creatures. Are such assertions based on solid evidence?
Consider what evolutionary researchers say about the following topics. None of the researchers quoted believe in the Bible’s teaching of creation. All accept the teaching of evolution.
At the beginning of the 20th century, all the fossils that were used to support the theory that humans and apes evolved from a common ancestor could fit on a billiard table. Since then, the number of fossils used to support that theory has increased. Now it is claimed that they would fill a railroad boxcar. 38. The Human Lineage, by Matt Cartmill and Fred H. Smith, 2009, Preface, p. xi.
However, the vast majority of those fossils consist only of single bones and isolated teeth. Complete skulls—let alone complete skeletons—are rare. 39. Fossils, Teeth and Sex—New Perspectives on Human Evolution, by Charles E. Oxnard, 1987, Preface, pp. xi, xii.
When it comes to how these fossils should be classified, Robin Derricourt of the University of New South Wales, Australia, wrote in 2009: “
Perhaps the only consensus now is that there is no consensus.”
40. Critique of Anthropology, Volume 29(2), “Patenting Hominins—Taxonomies, Fossils and Egos,” by Robin Derricourt, 2009, pp. 195-196, 198.
In 2007 the science journal Nature published an article by the discoverers of another claimed link in the evolutionary tree, saying that
nothing is known about when or how the human line actually emerged from that of apes.
41. Nature, “A New Species of Great Ape From the Late Miocene Epoch in Ethiopia,” by Gen Suwa, Reiko T. Kono, Shigehiro Katoh, Berhane Asfaw, and Yonas Beyene, August 23, 2007, p. 921.
Gyula Gyenis, a researcher at the Department of Biological Anthropology, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary, wrote in 2002: “The classification and the evolutionary place of hominid fossils has been under constant debate.” This author also states that the
fossil evidence gathered so far brings us no closer to knowing exactly when, where, or how humans evolved from apelike creatures.
42. Acta Biologica Szegediensis, Volume 46(1-2), “New Findings—New Problems in Classification of Hominids,” by Gyula Gyenis, 2002, pp. 57, 59.
The media often widely broadcasts the announcement that a new “missing link” has been discovered. For example, in 2009 a fossil dubbed Ida was unveiled with what one journal called “rock-star hype.” 43. New Scientist, “A Fine Fossil—But a Missing Link She’s Not,” by Chris Bead, May 30, 2009, p. 18. Publicity included this headline in The Guardian newspaper of the United Kingdom (UK): “Fossil Ida:
Extraordinary Find Is ‘Missing Link’ in Human Evolution.” 44. The Guardian, London, “Fossil Ida: Extraordinary Find Is ‘Missing Link’ in Human Evolution,” by James Randerson, May 19, 2009, (
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/ may/19/ida-fossil-missing-link), accessed 8/25/2009.
However, just days later, the UK science journal New Scientist said: “Ida is not a ‘missing link’ in human evolution.”
45. New Scientist, May 30, 2009, pp. 18-19.
Question:
Why is each unveiling of a new “missing link” given wide media attention, whereas the removal of that fossil from the “family tree” is hardly mentioned?
Answer: Regarding those who make these discoveries, Robin Derricourt, quoted earlier, says: “The leader of a research team may need to over-emphasize the uniqueness and drama of a ‘discovery’ in order to attract research funding from outside the conventional academic sources, and they will certainly be encouraged in this by the print and electronic media, looking for a dramatic story.”
46. Critique of Anthropology, Volume 29(2), p. 202.
If it cannot be established when, where, or how humans evolved from apelike creatures, why is it not questioned if it happened?
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Very early after Jehovah adopted the Israelite nation to be his name people he issued this warning:
(Exodus 23:2) You must not follow after the crowd to do evil, and
you must not pervert justice by giving testimony to go along with the crowd.
Satan is able to influence anyone that leaves off serving Jehovah. Even other angels have fallen victim.
(1 John 5:19) We know that we originate with God, but
the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.
