“Not true. The fact we share 99% of our DNA with chimps is pretty strong evidence that chimps are our ancestors.”
Exactly right, we were genetically modified from apes.
“Created in stages? By whom? And who were the genetic engineers? There is either evolution or someone started tinkering with genetics. Since you seem to subscribe to the latter; who were they?”
Simple... In every historical oral and written tradition including the bible we were created by God or Gods from other worlds and/or dimensions.
Do you mean modified and natural selection or some higher power or aliens doing it?