The Origin of Man

Questions to ponder

• Which is more reliable: Creation story or The theory of evolution?

• Did we really come from Apes?

• Did aliens really come?

What is Anthropology?

Nominal:

anthropos meaning “man”

+ logos meaning “to reason or study”

Real: “the science of humanity,” which studies human beings in aspects ranging from the biology and evolutionary history of Homo sapiens to the features of society and culture that decisively distinguishes humans from other animal species. (Britannica, 2012)

Theories

• Creationism• Evolution• Theistic• Other theories

Controversies arose that caused the emergence of two groups…

1. Polygenists – scientific inquiry must prevail over the Bible.

2. Monogenist – defend the validity of the Bible

Creationism

• All species of animals at present as well as those that have become extinct, are relatives of the first species of animals

created by God in a week’s time.

• New Earth Creationist – Bible is ABSOLUTE

• Old Earth Creationist = Believes that God has created the earth + modern

technology and geologic evidence

Do you know when and at what time the world was created?

According to Archbishop James Ussher in the early 1600…

October 23, 4004, 9 p.m.

Evolution

• the process by which organisms change from a simple one-celled organism to a complex organism.

the lengthy process of change by which people originated from ape-like ancestors.

Charles Darwin

• English Naturalist• Developed the Theory of Natural Selection

became the foundation of modern evolutionary thought

• In Evolution Theory…

God, Allah, or any other supreme being has

NO participation.

What did they believe in?

Theory of Natural Selection

• process by which organisms are able to preserve themselves & reproduce by

acquiring positive traits as compared to others. HOW?

• Survival of the fittest

What does science have to say?

• Scientists say that the earth, for billions of years before, was one big mass of land.

1. Continental Drift - – horizontal displacements of sections of the earth’s surface

2. Land Bridges – disappeared due to the rise of the water level due to the melting of the glaciers.– Most popular & accepted theory in terms of

Earth’s formation.

It looks like they can be put together!!!

Who were the first inhabitants?

According to science…

• Everyone came from primates.• Closest relative of humans are the

Chimpanzees

Primate

AnthropoidsProsimians

Hominids

Pongids Homo

Australopithecine

Characteristics - Had both human and ape-like features

1. Ape-like face proportions (flat nose, strongly projected lower jaw

2. Smaller braincase – usually 1/3 of the regular modern human brain

3. Long strong arms with curved fingers

4. Small canine teeth

5. Bipedal

Homo

Characteristics:

1. Brain size is almost of the same size as humans

2. Wide, fleshy nose

3. Face was flat

4. prominent ridges over the brow

5. Arms are shorter

6. His longer legs

7. Approximately the same to modern humans in terms of size – 4’9’’ – 6’1’’ and 88 – 150 lbs.

I want you to look closely at the person to your right…

…the person to your left

…then to person behind you

3 types of Homo

• Homo Habilis – “Man of Skill”• Homo Erectus – “Man who walks upright”

• Homo Sapiens – “Man who thinks”

2 Types of Homo Sapiens

1. Neanderthal

Characteristics:–5.5 ft tall–brains slightly

larger than modern man– thick boned

2. Cro – Magnon

Characteristics:–High forehead–Small brow ridges–Well defined chin

What’s the problem Mr. Primate?

1. Knuckle walking – hard to gather food. Became easier when they became bipedal

2. Predators were everywhere

3. Vegetation were scattered

Theistic evolution

• God created the first organisms but it mutated, adapted to the changing environment, and so it evolved.

Other theories

Raelism

– Life was created by the ALIENS alone

- Does not believe in eternal life but in Life in another planet

QUESTIONS???