“We are only one chromosome away from chimpanzees”
Yet another atheist blogger was addressing how similar we are to common primates. Another atheist said that we aren’t similar to apes, we ARE apes. This reminded me of an article that was printed in Time Magazine several years ago. I dug it out of my filing cabinet. It’s by Andrew Lansdown. Here it is.
“No single, essential difference separates human beings from other animals.” So began a feature article on evolution in Time Magazine (“How Man Began,” March 14, 1994). The more I thought about this sweeping statement the more I began to warm to it.
For example, like humans, apes have well formed rational faculties. Their ability to develop an argument, follow a line of logic, draw conclusions and frame hypotheses is quite remarkable.
Also like humans, apes have a marked faculty for language. (This, of course, is intertwined with their powers of reason.) Their vocabulary is enormous, their grammar complex and their conversations deep and meaningful.
The apes’ ability to codify language in writing is further proof of their close relationship to humans. In this respect, it was most gratifying to see the number of apes who wrote to Time magazine in response to the article on “How Man Began.” I was particularly interested to follow the line of reasoning of the orangutan who argued that apes had evolved from humans, not vice versa.
Like humans, apes also have a strong spirit of inquiry. Their research in the fields of astronomy, mathematics, medicine and physics is noteworthy.
Apes also (again, like humans) yearn for meaning in life. This is why they devote so much of their time to philosophy, theology and ethics. The religious sentiments and practices of all apes can be traced back to their intense and endless quest for meaning.
Apes are concerned about questions not only of origin but also of destiny. The best proof I can offer for this claim is the maxim by one famous ape philosopher who said, “Whether my life leads ultimately to the dirt or to Judgment, either way, I’ve got a problem.”
Apes also have, like humans, a refined aesthetic sense. They admire beauty and long to surround themselves with it. When an ape cultivates a garden, puts flowers in a vase, or hangs up a painting, what is it doing if not expressing a love of beauty?
Again, like humans, apes have a strong creative impulse. This is seen in their poetry, painting, dance, drama and music. To a lesser extent their creativity is also evident in the way they gather in weekly craft groups to weave baskets, spin wool, knit shawls, and cover photo albums.
The sense of humour shared by all apes is another proof of their close kinship to humans. Their delight in the ridiculous and their love of a good laugh is plain from the popular ape jokes they tell.
Reason, language, inquiry, wonder, longing, religion, morality, aesthetics, creativity, imagination, aspiration and humour . . such intangible but fundamental qualities are by no means unique to humans, as I hope I have conclusively shown. Therefore, in the profound words of Time magazine, “No single, essential difference separates human beings from other animals.”
This being the case, Christians are plainly wrong to insist that humans and animals are vastly different. And they are also obviously wrong to insist that this difference arises from the fact that God created humans in His own likeness. And if they are wrong to insist that God made us in His own likeness, then they are wrong to insist that God has any claim on us.
Such is the logic of chimps - I mean atheists
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9 comments:
LOL!!!
Well done!
This is a dangerous line of logic to follow. It defines humanity by what it can do. How, then, does one define a human that can't do any of those things? There are humans, whether by genetic anomaly, injury at birth, or injury later, can't do any of those things. Are they less than human?
Beyond that, gorillas lack the larynx for speech, not the capacity for speech. They can learn sign language. Whalesong gives clear directions to meeting sites. Many animals, including crows, are capable of using tools.
I do see very little difference between humans and animals. This makes me see all life on earth as more precious, not humans as less.
PersonalFailure said...
"This is a dangerous line of logic to follow. It defines humanity by what it can do. How, then, does one define a human that can't do any of those things? There are humans, whether by genetic anomaly, injury at birth, or injury later, can't do any of those things. Are they less than human?"
WHY SHOULD IT MATTER IF THERE IS NO CREATOR IN WHOSE IMAGE HUMANS ARE MADE AND WHO HOLDS US ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR ACTIONS?
Guys, some times a joke is just a joke.
Question for the Bibleists. Assume that I can go somewhere a legally kill a chimp. Then assume that I go and catch a trout. Is either act any more morally blameworthy than the other? Why?
We share most of our DNA with every single creature on Earth. Not just chimps, though we are more directly related to chimps than any other creature on Earth.
Pick up a science text, Makarios.
So what's your point Ian? That we have a common Creator?
Your sarcasm needs a lot of work or at minimum some cross cultural awareness.
For example, you state "Apes also (again, like humans) yearn for meaning in life. This is why they devote so much of their time to philosophy, theology and ethics. The religious sentiments and practices of all apes can be traced back to their intense and endless quest for meaning." The point you seem to be trying to make is that humans are likely to do this whereas apes are not. But focusing on ethics and philosophy is something that only occurs in certain cultures, cultures where there is a large amount of free resources. Hunter-gatherers for example don't do this.
"Apes also have, like humans, a refined aesthetic sense. They admire beauty and long to surround themselves with it." In fact, some of the great apes when given opportunity to do so, do decorate their cages and such in zoos.
"The sense of humour shared by all apes is another proof of their close kinship to humans." Actually, many of the great apes do laugh. But again nice try.
Pretty close to everything you listed here comes down to the basic issue that humans have a mastery of language that the other great apes do not. That is a major difference, but it is a single difference.
I'm also a bit puzzled by your insistence that Christianity make such a strong distinction between
humans and the rest of the animal kingdom. Many verses in the Bible seem to make a comparison between the two. Ecclesiastese 3:19 would be the most obvious example.
"Your sarcasm needs a lot of work or at minimum some cross cultural awareness."
No doubt you are correct. However this is not my work. I copied it from someone else.
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"Many verses in the Bible seem to make a comparison between the two."
Yes - and?
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