In Evolutionary Race, Humans Went the Extra Mile, Study Says

Los Angeles Times ^ | November 18, 2004 | Robert Lee Hotz, Times Staff Writer

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Humanity was born to run.

Humanity was born to run.

More than by brain size or tool-making ability, the human species was set apart from its ancestors by the ability to jog mile after lung-stabbing mile with greater endurance than any other primate, according to research published today in the journal Nature.

Indeed, human beings evolved as the cross-country stars of a primordial runner's world 2 million years before the advent of jogging shoes, tracksuits and arthroscopic knee surgery.

Mounting a challenge to the conventional wisdom about human origins, researchers at Harvard University and the University of Utah concluded that the ability to run long distances was the driving force shaping the modern human anatomy.

Such running ability could have given early humans a survival edge in scavenging on the open savannas of Africa.

The earliest humans, the researchers said, were marathon men and women from the tips of their distinctively short toes and long Achilles tendons to the tops of their biomechanically balanced heads.

"We have gone all this time somehow missing this truly important aspect of humans — this [long-distance running] behavior and its impact on the design of the human body," said University of Utah biologist Dennis Bramble, who co-wrote the study.

"Primates don't do distance running," Bramble said. "We should have recognized that humans are very odd."

[Modernman]

Or maybe you adherents of Darwinism need to realize you've elevated Reason ("rationality") to a god-like status it doesn't deserve.

If I have to live in a pre- or post-enlightenment world, I know what I'm picking.

[nmh]

I do not believe that I evolved from an ape or a fish or an amoeba.

Moderman: That's fine. You just need to realize that your belief is purely irrational.

I don't believe I "evolved" either. I was created by God and He's no "ape" and intellectually speaking, you don't hold a candle compared to Him. Someday also you will have to account for such foolishness.

[nmh]

"I do not believe that I evolved from an ape or a fish or an amoeba. If you prefer to believe that, fine. I believe God created us in His image. Period."

Same here!

Hey, if folks want to consider themselves dumb animals, let em. You can't stop everyone for wanting to have such a low opinion of themselves.

[buwaya]

Darwinism is a theory that contradicts a small specific item in the Bible of no theological significance in my opinion.

There are plenty of other cases where scientific theory also contradicts specifics in the Bible.

I'm with Augustine on the need to interpret the Bible in the spirit of the New Testament, not to swallow whole every bit without thinking it through.

[buwaya]

But are you sure of the mechanism by which God created us ? Such certainty is pride itself.

[WildTurkey]

If you prefer to believe that, fine. I believe God created us in His image. Period.

Or, did we create God in OUR image? hmmm ...

[WildTurkey]

Jesus said nothing about evolution. My conscience (on that score) is as clear as can be.

What did he say about space travel?

[Modernman]

I don't believe I "evolved" either. I was created by God and He's no "ape" and intellectually speaking, you don't hold a candle compared to Him. Someday also you will have to account for such foolishness.

I've always said that Creationism is a tool of the devil- creationists have been tricked by Lucifer into ignoring much of the majesty of the universe created by God. Part of that majesty is the elegant beauty of evolution, the system created by God to create all living things.

When Creationists die, God probably shakes his head at them for their blindness to His creation.

[StJacques]

". . . P.s., as a Catholic, I think St. Augustine had the right attitude wrt Biblical interpretation."

As another Catholic who is present, may I also say that Augustine was the man. And if I understand your point, it is that any Christian is mistaken if he can predict the outcome of Judgement Day, a point which Augustine made forcefully and with which I agree entirely. Many of us may believe we know what will happen, but none of us knows and it is a flawed interpretation of Christian belief to purport that you do.

[JonDavid]

Little bit off the topic, but just had a thought, if you study the Bible, there is evidence that all animals have a soul & spirit. The difference between man & animal is that man is created in the image of God. Before the fall of Adam & Eve which brought sin & thus death into the world, God had plans for man & animals to live in harmony. Remember, God is The God of Life, not death. Also, if salvation was meant just for people, it would say that in the Bible. Instead the Bible states that Jesus salvation is for all creation, all flesh, not just man.

[buwaya]

Nothing either, so you can blast off with a clear conscience I think.

[Tribune7]

Interesting.

[StJacques]

"As another Catholic who is present, may I also say that Augustine was the man. And if I understand your point, it is that any Christian is mistaken if he can predict the outcome of Judgement Day, a point which Augustine made forcefully and with which I agree entirely. Many of us may believe we know what will happen, but none of us knows and it is a flawed interpretation of Christian belief to purport that you do."

I'm going to quote myself to amend something I just wrote. I intended to comment upon the point of Christian ethics that no one knows what the outcome of any individual's fate will be on Judgement Day, as Augustine wrote. We do know that good will triumph over evil and the righteous will be raised.

[stacytec]

Makes sense to me. Compared to other primates, healthy human bodies look built for speed. And considering the types of animals that were wandering around the last ice age, speed was paramount.

[HairOfTheDog]

I believe God created us in His image. Period.

My car starts because I turn the key. Period.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Good article here:

Evolution's Big Bang (Cambrian Explosion & Darwin)

[Rock N Jones]

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.cept when dribing 80 sown the Freewee! --Just plain old Frank

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The complexity of life and the universe is astounding!

See link at post #36 above.

[Rakkasan1]

I used to like running. now I only run if I'm being chased and my weapon is empty.

Runners who chastise smokers are just jealous I can get a
'runners high' from walking up a flight of stairs.

[JonDavid]

We are created in the image and the likeness of God. It’s a mystery.