Neanderthal DNA & Theology

[Ma'ake]

How does the Neanderthal DNA discovery impact LDS theology? If God was in fact a human being, presumably he was of a "purer" type of human DNA, ie, no Neanderthal mixture. (For that matter, what "vintage" of DNA did/does God possess?)

What about Mary, and Jesus? The findings suggest that non-Africans broadly carry the Neanderthal DNA.

Given the distinctive and unambiguous role of human beings in LDS theology, is this new finding troublesome, or just another unanswerable?

I'm no atheist, but I have a hard time believing God is a human being.

[SoonerCoug]

My big question is whether homo neanderthalensis can be classified as a different species anymore. If homo sapiens and neanderthals could breed and produce fertile offspring of both genders, then it's not a different species. Correct me if I'm wrong, woot.

[Ma'ake]

My big question is whether homo neanderthalensis can be classified as a different species anymore. If homo sapiens and neanderthals could breed and produce fertile offspring of both genders, then it's not a different species. Correct me if I'm wrong, woot.

Waiting for Woot's word, too, but I remember reading somewhere that humans and chimps could mate & have offspring, given the degree of similarity in chromozomes, DNA, etc. (Pretty frightening thought.)

[SoonerCoug]

Waiting for Woot's word, too, but I remember reading somewhere that humans and chimps could mate & have offspring, given the degree of similarity in chromozomes, DNA, etc. (Pretty frightening thought.)

You might be right.

[SoonerCoug]

Waiting for Woot's word, too, but I remember reading somewhere that humans and chimps could mate & have offspring, given the degree of similarity in chromozomes, DNA, etc. (Pretty frightening thought.)

Actually this would be impossible. Different number of chromosomes, and so I doubt it would work. They certainly wouldn't be fertile offspring.

[byu71]

You might be right.

If you did something like this using President Obama, you would be accused of being a racist.

Although I like Bush, I am not that offended, just sayin.

[SoonerCoug]

If you did something like this using President Obama, you would be accused of being a racist.

I knew this was coming.

There are good reasons why it's not OK to compare a black person to a chimp. No one would ever think that comparing a caucasian to a chimp is a commentary on the person's race. Caucasians were never viewed as a lower or more primitive subspecies in this country.

[byu71]

I knew this was coming.

There are good reasons why it's not OK to compare a black person to a chimp. No one would ever think that comparing a caucasian to a chimp is a commentary on the person's race. Caucasians were never viewed as a lower or more primitive subspecies in this country.

I should remind you Obama is half caucasian.

That wasn't my point though. My point is that I don't think it is acceptable to portray Bush in that way.

Let's get away from the ape thing. I think it would be more acceptable by the "elite" to call Bush a nazi or have the swatske in a Bush picture, but would call someone who did the same with Obama, nutty or racist.

There seems to be an acceptable double standard.

[SoonerCoug]

That wasn't my point though. My point is that I don't think it is acceptable to portray Bush in that way.

Sorry. I learned this at BYU. It was on one of my professor's doors. I'll change my ways.

[byu71]

Sorry. I learned this at BYU. It was on one of my professor's doors. I'll change my ways.

No problem, just because I find it unacceptable doesn't mean it is. I would venture to guess on this board, I am one of the very few that thought Bush was a good President, as presidents go.

Did you really find it on a BYU professor's door. If so, it never ceases to amaze me what BYU finds offensive and what it doesn't.

[SoonerCoug]

Did you really find it on a BYU professor's door. If so, it never ceases to amaze me what BYU finds offensive and what it doesn't.

Yes. The first time I saw this was on a BYU molecular biology professor's door. (He was instrumental in getting Dr. Bridgewater hired.) I think he was referring to relationships among animals, which is what I was trying to do. I would have done the same if Clinton had made those faces.

[byu71]

Yes. The first time I saw this was on a BYU molecular biology professor's door. (He was instrumental in getting Dr. Bridgewater hired.) I think he was referring to relationships among animals, which is what I was trying to do. I would have done the same if Clinton had made those faces.

OK, maybe I overreacted.

I guess I am fresh from seeing some "anti Arizona law" rallies, where a mustache was painted on the Arizona Gov. face, swastka's and other things. None of the shows I saw condemned such stuff. I didn't watch Fox. Yet, the nuts who do that stuff in the tea party get not only called out, but inuendo's made that stuff is what the tea party represents.

[SoonerCoug]

OK, maybe I overreacted.

I guess I am fresh from seeing some "anti Arizona law" rallies, where a mustache was painted on the Arizona Gov. face, swastka's and other things. None of the shows I saw condemned such stuff. I didn't watch Fox. Yet, the nuts who do that stuff in the tea party get not only called out, but inuendo's made that stuff is what the tea party represents.

Well, he was a VERY controversial BYU professor, and also one of the best professors I ever had. He was also clearly a liberal.

[byu71]

Well, he was a VERY controversial BYU professor, and also one of the best professors I ever had. He was also clearly a liberal.

Odd's are if you find a liberal mormon, he/she will be a college professor.

[SeattleUte]

Ma'ake, the answer to your question, of course, is that it will make no difference at all. Most Mormons, certainly more than enough of the ones who count, are fully satisfied with the answers their leaders give them.