Where Do We Come From?
In the prologue, I mentioned:
There are three questions that no one can answer categorically without faith.
1. Where do we come from?
2. What is our purpose in this life?
3. Where do we go after our death?
Today, we will expand on the prologue version of, Where do we come from?
According to science, we have all evolved from a group of hominoids, the group of primates called “lesser apes.” The link I have provided is fascinating and graphically illustrated to show the evolution process. (Owing its origins to Charles Darwin, as we discussed in our prologue.)
The author/s suggested that bonobos and chimps evolved into humans over 6-7 million years ago (mya).
Let me hasten to say that I am not a scientist, nor for that matter, do I have more than a periphery interest in science. As a result, I will not pursue any further information on the scientific reasons related to ‘Where do we humans come from?’
I have provided some information for you to follow up if you are inclined to do so. As a fair comment from my standpoint, I have three issues with the theory of evolution.
Firstly, there is the issue of proving or disproving the theory of evolution:
(Here is a reminder of the figures I gave you in the prologue.)
In the world today, we have statistics that show that 85% of the population of the globe believes in a God. It would be reasonable to recognize that these souls are unlikely to believe in the theory of evolution. But if you have any doubts about my statement, let’s consider that 45% of the 85% of these religions are 19% Islamic and 26% Christian. Islam and Christianity are mono-theistic (believe in one God) religions. So, there is no chance that they would accept Mr. Darwin’s theory.
Secondly, considering the above figures, there is the issue of the guardians of the theory of evolution—the scientists.
Scientists constitute 0.1% of the world’s population. To you and I, this means that 54.99% of the world’s population trusts what .01% of the population is offering. Added to this is the fact that 99.99% of the world’s population is not in a position to prove or disprove what the .01% are saying.
Do you agree with me – is this not a considerable display of faith?
Finally, if evolution started six million years ago and we humans came from Bonobo and Chimps, why is that process not continuing, like a production run? Did it all cease when the first humans evolved? I need some help on this one.
Now, let us deal with what counts.
Christians believe it all started in the Garden of Eden with our parents, Adam and Eve, in about 8000 to 2000 BCE.
An estimate of the time between Adam and Jesus is 4,000 years. Add to this 2023, and we are looking at the age of humanity since the Garden of Eden to be 6000 years. What we derive from this is that the lifespan of humankind is 6000 years, right?
There is no mention in scripture how long it took from the world’s creation to the arrival of human, animal, bird, and insect life on earth. Some estimates suggest that the planet is 4 to 4.5 billion years old. Animal life came in at 574 million years ago. There is a colossal divide between science and the Bible. As I mentioned above, it will take 99.99% of the world’s population a considerable amount of faith to believe what science tells us. In contrast, the belief in the Bible is supported by some 50% of the world’s population, without us knowing what 49.99% believe, leaving the known view of science being 0.01%.
But faith does not work by numbers. Faith is believing in something when your five senses say it’s false.
Our faith in God’s word alone is what saves us. Not only in our Journey into eternity but also in each day while we live on this earth. Faith helps us stay true to God’s word in the words we speak and how we live our lives. Our words don’t paint pictures, but our lifestyle does. (There is an ancient quote: ‘A picture is worth a thousand words.’)
I hope I have given you some help in answering the question, ‘Where do we come from?’ What is more important is that you apply your answer to your life, and I hope you have realized that only faith in God can give you the correct answer, and applying it to your life will take you to eternity.
Talk again in Part Three.
Blessings
Peter James