comment by forwardslash

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forwardslash · 4538 days ago · link · · parent · post: The Dangers of Creationism

My mother shared a story of me when I was in the third grade recently. I was walking home and talking to the crossing guard and I said, "Did you know that some people think we came from apes?" She responded rather diplomatically, "I guess that question has been around for some time."

"No", I said, "Only about three weeks."

I have no idea why I was dealing with questions of evolution at that time, probably conversations with friends, but I was in no way equipped to deal with it. Even when we briefly went over evolution in my science class in high school it was a big cuffufle.

Funnily enough, when I took a semester of bible college my Intro to Christian Theology teacher really challenged the class on how we thought about evolution, creationism, and science in general.

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khaaan · 4538 days ago · link ·

They are our cousins humans and apes, chimpanzees, gorillas and urangatans came from the same common ancestor we did not evolve from apes.

+discuss+discuss

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briandmyers · 4538 days ago · link ·

We DID evolve from apes; and we still ARE apes. Homo sapiens is an ape, as are gorillas, chimps, and orangutans.

+discuss+discuss

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mk · 4538 days ago · link ·

Yes we are apes. All these, including us, are part of the Hominoidea superfamily. The orangutans (pongo) are an earlier split though. It used to be thought that we split with these guys at an earlier ancestor, but we now know this isn't the case.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apes#Changes_in_taxonomy

This stuff is actually extremely well worked out now thanks to genomic taxonomy. There are folk that obsess over differences in the DNA of different hamster species.

+discuss+discuss

forwardslash · 4538 days ago · link ·

I'm sure my seven year old self is embarrassed for the mistake.

+discuss+discuss

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thenewgreen · 4537 days ago · link ·

I think perhaps we're being to hard on 7 year old forwardslash. I think its great that you were dealing with such questions at the age of 7. Chances are you were surrounded by people having discussions about such things. This is a great way to grow up imo.

I recall my grandparents dining room table always having lively debates about science, religion, politics etc. I'm thankful for such things. I'm sure you are too.

You're response was awesome "No", I said, "Only about three weeks." -Hilarious. Kid's rule.

btw, 28 days!