Creationism is Foiled: The Missing Link Has Been Found

Darwinius masillae, or “Ida,” is the 95% preserved fossil of the Lemur-monkey-ape-man with opposable thumbs, a tail, no grooming claw, fossilized fur, is approximately the size of a raccoon and apparently has the remnants of its ancient veggie burger in its stomach. According to researchers this is not a lemur because it has no grooming claw or “toothcomb” and is similar to a human because it has a talus bone similar in structure/shape, nails (as do primates), and opposable thumbs (like lemurs and primates).

Is it the “Missing Link”?

I have no idea (though according to the Biblical account of Creation it seems rather unlikely); however, based on the information in the reports, the images of Ida and my (limited) understanding of animals I highly doubt it. Other than having 5 “fingers,” one similar bone, nails, and opposable thumbs I find it almost laughable to see the images and consider it my long lost great, great, great… grandmother. It seems to be a wishful thinking conclusion based on similarities (coincidence?) more than actual possibility. It seems like “walks like a duck, quacks like a duck” sort of historical science: “of the millions of genetic features contained within a human, this species has a possible “x” amount that are similar! Congrats, gents, we have our duck, er, human-ape-lemur connection!” (I have no idea how many there are, but even if it were 1,000 out of 1,000,000 that’s still only .1% similar.)

In his work, "Origin of the Species," Darwin said that in order for his theory of evolution to be accurate there would have to be a transitional or intermediate creature found (a half-man, half-ape). Since then evolutionary science has operated from the platform of “find that transitional animal” and every time something is found they examine it from one worldview only – evolution. “What similarities are there?” “Is there a way this could be that?” Examine it from the worldview that God created it and all the conclusions change! Now the similarities between Ida and humans reveal that there is one highly imaginative Creator that used similar features while still giving each species its own identity and creative makeup.

For more on this from a Creationism standpoint, checkout the following article: “Ida: the Missing Link at Last?”

PARENTS: At no point should we as believers be intimidated by these "findings." A few points to remember about science and God: (1) God created everything, (2) God created man with the ability to know Him, (3) God created man with the ability to think and rationalize, (4) Science is not the enemy of God (matter of fact, much of it helps us to understand His Creation better), (5) Truth will always be true - it cannot be refuted. Christianity ought to always welcome a healthy conversation with the skeptic. Instead of fearing new "findings" (such as "missing link" findings, "tomb of Jesus" findings, etc.) we ought to use them to dialogue with the skeptics and to articulate the position of a creative Creator whose design was flawless and founded in hope.

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Image credit: Associated Press

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