This month Ill be finishing up the creation vs evolution series with an article about us:

humans. According to the theory of evolution, humans are animals that evolved with other
organisms over millions of years. Evolutionists believe our closest relatives are apes, with
humans and current apes both originating from a common ancestor.
Many attempts have been made to bridge the gap between mankind and apes. The
australopith genus encompasses most of the apemen. The most famous is Lucy. Heralded
for many years as the intermediate between man and apes, this 40% complete skeleton was
originally discovered in 1974. Lucy was supposed to have walked upright, an important
landmark in the transition to man.
Currently, scientists claim that an arched foot bone proves she walked upright, but
others believe its too much of a stretch to assume the entire species walked upright without the
other bones. Another case used to argue Lucys kin walked upright is footprints preserved in
volcanic ash, but this is only because the ash supposedly predates humans. The footprints fully
resemble human footprints. The evidence is more against australopith walking upright than for
it. Lucys species had curved hand and foot bones, long arms, the wrists of knuckle-walkers,
and other traits suited for life in the trees.
Neanderthals were once another example used to support evolution. Despite
exaggerated claims to make them primitive cavemen, they were completely human. Studying
their skulls has proven they were as intelligent as modern people and equally capable of
speech. Their anatomy essentially was the same as modern people, with slightly stockier limbs,
a trait is seen in ethnicities in cold climates. Furthermore, Neanderthals had their own culture.
They buried their dead, practiced religious ceremonies, and made complex tools and musical
instruments.
Genesis describes mankind as unique: formed by God and given the earth to rule over.
The human body is designed for our special place in creation. Our upright position not only
distinguishes us from animals, but allows full use of our hands. Human hands are a marvel of
creation, perfectly designed to allow us to discern textures, temperatures and how much force to
use when gripping an object. (Seriously: look up the human hand. Theres not enough room in
this article to describe how incredible it is.) Our faces are also special. The human face has
about 40 muscles that move the entire face with precision, giving us another tool for
communication. The human brain is well known for its complexity, with 100 billion cells and 100
trillion connections between them. Even today scientists dont fully understand how it works.
Humans are also built to be capable of language. Language is unique to mankind and
far more complex than many people realize. While animals such as parrots, dogs, and chimps
can memorize words or symbols, they arent capable of grammar, the key component of
language. Weve had complex language from the beginning: Adams first recorded words were
poetry.
In addition to physical differences, we can see the how God has given us a different
nature from animals. For example, we have the ability to appreciate beauty. A dog or an ape
doesnt feel the same enjoyment a human does at a sunset or painting. This ability is not an
instinct evolved to help us survive; it is gift from our Creator. Likewise, humans sing and
produce complex instruments simply because we find pleasure in certain sounds. Evolutions
survival of the fittest policy cant explain how much we enjoy music.
 Another distinctive human ability is reason. Our minds are capable of science, abstract
thinking, and a close relationship with the Lord. However, we also have the gift of choice. God
doesnt want fancy robots that obey because theres no other option. Mankind was given the
choice to obey God in the beginning, and we all know what Adam and Eve chose.
From the beginning, God created mankind special, separate from animals. We are
created in Gods image for His glory. This is why Christians believe in the sanctity of human life
and equality of all races. We can truly agree with King David: I praise you because I am
fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14)
The debate between evolution and creation is a fascinating subject. Ive learned a lot
researching it, and I highly encourage you to learn more. For Bible-based articles on nearly any
topic, try Creation Ministries International (creation.com), the Institute for Creation Research
(www.icr.org), and Answers in Genesis (answersingenesis.org).