Did Neanderthals have souls?

[Zzyzx]

.
Many Theists seem intent on distinguishing between humans and "the animals" (as though humans were something other than animals) -- often proclaiming that humans have "souls" (which have yet to be shown to exist outside imagination).

Where along the line did humans acquire "souls?"

Did / do other closely related species have "souls?"

[connermt]

.
Many Theists seem intent on distinguishing between humans and "the animals" (as though humans were something other than animals) -- often proclaiming that humans have "souls" (which have yet to be shown to exist outside imagination).

Where along the line did humans acquire "souls?"

Did / do other closely related species have "souls?"

It's not known rather or not modern humans have souls, so we can't say they did either.
Some believers wouldn't claim to accept the concept of neanderthals at all. After all, the first human wasn't a 'caveman' but a dude named Adam
Where along the line did humans get souls? Many theists would likely say 'When Adam was created' disregarding any other concept of human evolution.
Then again, christianity is so malleable that anyone could say anything so long as they can justify it with the bible.
All of this accepts we can define a 'soul' at all, or come to a consensus. We can't.

[dianaiad]

.
Many Theists seem intent on distinguishing between humans and "the animals" (as though humans were something other than animals) -- often proclaiming that humans have "souls" (which have yet to be shown to exist outside imagination).

Where along the line did humans acquire "souls?"

Did / do other closely related species have "souls?"

Yes.

.................OK, that's a one liner.

So here: I'll make it three lines.

Yes, Neanderthals had spirits.
So do dolphins.
So do ants, and kittens, and duck billed platypuses.

At least, so I've been taught, and so I believe.

...............................y'know what else? Dogs really do go to heaven.

......(edit to add:) Or, to avoid the demand of PROVE THAT HUMANS HAVE SOULS!!!

If humans have spirits, then so does everything else living. So I have been taught, and so I believe.

And yes, cats go to heaven too.

[Cephus]

There's no reason to think anyone has a soul, there's no evidence whatsoever for the existence of souls, so no. Neanderthals didn't have souls and neither does anyone else, at least until there is evidence that shows otherwise.

[tortured soul]

[Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]

In the Bible, God breathed into man's nostrils and man became a living soul. What does this mean? Why did God breath into the nostrils and not into the mouth? The nose is access to the brain, therefore the soul of man (mind, will, and emotions) are stored in the brain and held in place by intrinsic electrical highways carrying information by light. The apostle John wrote, In him was life and the life is the light of men. This light means unquenchable fire, or the heart of man, which is placed within the core (abdomen) and represents the vitality that brings vitality to the soul (chi), in effect, bringing life to the information stored within the mind.

At one point in my life, I decided to find out if there was life after death, so I chose to visit proclaimed haunted locations. I was able to personally experience, in a negative way, the afterlife. It seems that disembodied souls left on earth just want to be left alone or play games. If you desire to experience the spiritual realm, there are ways, outside of Christianity, to do this- just a friendly word of advice though, be careful. If you want evidence, sometimes you have to put down the book and go find out for yourself.

[Haven]

For the OP's question to have meaning, one must come up with a coherent definition of "soul." Without such a definition, we have no idea what we're discussing.

At one point in my life, I decided to find out if there was life after death, so I chose to visit proclaimed haunted locations. I was able to personally experience, in a negative way, the afterlife. It seems that disembodied souls left on earth just want to be left alone or play games. If you desire to experience the spiritual realm, there are ways, outside of Christianity, to do this- just a friendly word of advice though, be careful. If you want evidence, sometimes you have to put down the book and go find out for yourself.

I've done the same and saw / heard / experienced nothing.

Personal anecdotes are meaningless as data because they are fundamentally subjective (not based in an objective reality), are subject to confirmation biases, and lack a common method of evaluating the world (unlike science, which uses the scientific method).

[Wootah]

[Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]

Neanderthals are humans so of course they had souls.

[DanieltheDragon]

[Replying to post 7 by Wootah]

They are not Homo Sapiens though Wootah there is a clear distinction between Homo Sapien and Homo Neanderthalensis. It is like saying but Polar bears are black bears to. What we refer to as human is Homo Sapien. Now you could argue that Homo Neanderthalensis is human and what is human? but the writers of the bible would not have encountered a Neaderthal and there is no evidence in the bible that describes them.

Are there any Neanderthals in the bible? Does the bible mention them? describe them? Is there anything to suggest that when the bible refers to man that it is also refering to neanderthals?

[Wootah]

[Replying to post 7 by Wootah]

They are not Homo Sapiens though Wootah there is a clear distinction between Homo Sapien and Homo Neanderthalensis. It is like saying but Polar bears are black bears to. What we refer to as human is Homo Sapien. Now you could argue that Homo Neanderthalensis is human and what is human? but the writers of the bible would not have encountered a Neaderthal and there is no evidence in the bible that describes them.

Are there any Neanderthals in the bible? Does the bible mention them? describe them? Is there anything to suggest that when the bible refers to man that it is also refering to neanderthals?

Quite possibly those people that lived with Neanderthals never had the distinction issues we have today.

[DanieltheDragon]

[Replying to post 9 by Wootah]

What are these distinction issues?