Did Neanderthals have souls?

[Zzyzx]

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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?"

[Zzyzx]

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Neanderthals are humans so of course they had souls.

According to Christian lore, did God create several different types (sub-species) of humans -- and give them all souls?

That seems a bit inconsistent with the Garden of Eden story unless A&E somehow managed to reproduce some offspring as Neanderthals and some Cro-Magnon and some Homo Sapiens sapiens.

How does that work? Were A&E Homo sapiens or some other Homo sub-species?

This gets confusing, doesn't it? Or is there some pat answer from Christendom?

Or might it make more sense to consider anthropology, biology, genetics information that we now have available (that was not available to bible writers thousands of years ago telling their opinions about gods)?

Variation in species, even humans, seems quite possible.

Can we be a bit more specific?

A&E are claimed to be the ancestors of all humans and to have been created directly by God. According to that theory did their offspring include Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis ) and Modern humans (Homo Sapiens sapiens)?

Did their offspring also include other members of the Homo genus (H. antecessor, H. cepranensisk, H. erectus, H. ergaster, H. floresiensis, H. habilis, H. neanderthalensis, H. rhodesiensis, H. rudolfensis)


Shall we consider information supplied by physical anthropology, primatology, archaeology, paleontology, ethology, linguistics, evolutionary psychology, embryology and genetics?

Or shall we emphasize the information supplied by bible writers 2000 years ago?

[DanieltheDragon]

[Replying to post 21 by Zzyzx]

well considering the earth is only 10,000 years or less according to the bible. I would say it is impossible for Eve and Adam to give birth to our other human relatives. It gives me the impression that the bible exclusively talks about homo sapiens.

[Clownboat]

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).

My experiences were the same as Havens.
I have observed some people hearing a bump and they immediately jump to ghost conclusions etc..., when all I heard was what seemed to be a door shutting or foundation creaking, something natural.

IMO, some people are just prone to looking to the supernatural and others aren't.

[Clownboat]

[Replying to post 12 by DanieltheDragon]

My comment, Daniel, was not a volatile remark, only one which meant to press the investigation to a deeper level of scientific investigation. Searching a few times and having no experience is one thing, but to really exhaust the resources, especially using the tools for that specific research, one may have better results. That is all I was saying. It was not meant to come across mean or abusive. Only a question and a suggestion, but I will try leave off from making suggestions.

I'm not sure I understand the concept of scientific investigation into the supernatural.
Can you explain?

[Wootah]

[Replying to post 21 by Zzyzx]

We should look at the evidence and decide for ourselves. For instance:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_cepranensis

Homo cepranensis is a proposed name for a human species, known from only one skull cap discovered in 1994.

It seems like so little actual evidence.

[Wootah]

[Replying to post 22 by DanieltheDragon]

Given how quickly we can breed different types of animals I am surprised at your claim.

[DanieltheDragon]

[Replying to post 26 by Wootah]

Neanderthals went extinct 25,000 years ago. So if Adam and Eve are 10,000 years old than the bible missed Neanderthals by 15,000 years.

[sleepyhead]

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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?"

Hello xXxX, Please excuse my over active spell checker.
Since we can't see souls, everything is conjecture. Since nothing can be proven I'm
going to approach the topic from the perspective of reincarnation. We are souls and we chose to inhabit a physical body. I believe there are many types of souls and our type have a monopoly on human bodies.
Humans acquired souls when souls chose to inhabit their bodies.
Biology will provide all animals with instinct which will allow it to survive regardless of whether it has a soul. Other species have souls if souls chose to inhabit that species.

[DanieltheDragon]

[Replying to post 21 by Zzyzx]

We should look at the evidence and decide for ourselves. For instance:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_cepranensis

Homo cepranensis is a proposed name for a human species, known from only one skull cap discovered in 1994.

It seems like so little actual evidence.

Really had to dig for that one right . Quoted from the article:

"There is not yet enough material to make a complete analysis of the individual."

it seems like so little evidence for a species because it is. Cepranensis is a proposed name. The scientific jury is still out on this one...

[Donray]

Easy answer, there are two creation stories in Genesis. One for Neanderthals and one for humans.