Why are we humans so different, or are we? What have you grown up hearing about the differences in the human race? If we have been conditioned to see the the differences then they will stand out to us, but if we look at everyone as the human race, and not individual races, we will find more similarities than dissimilarities!
Watch this short clip from Institute of Creation Research:
Historically we have seen that differences in race (language, culture or religion) has been the basis for wars and even genocide. We have also witnessed that if one group can rule the others then those who do not fall into the ruling profile become second class citizens, enslaved or even classified as less than human.
From the Christian worldview in the beginning God created humans in His own image and He gave them a mandate to take care of the earth and each other, and to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis chapter 1,2,9). But, because of the Fall humans began to disregard God and His Word. Defiance of God started with Satan who made sure it happened with humans. This (genetically) acquired human nature has separated us from God and the consequences have been devastating.
We see this soon after Noah’s Flood where humans set out to build a monument to themselves, like Satan, they wanted not to be in the image of God, but to be God. This monument or Tower (of Babel) was to be the pillar of human accomplishment and worshipped in place of God. Demonstrating His divine wisdom and love God chose to scatter them. Some scholars believe that in changing their language it affected their intentions (if you don’t have the same purpose in mind you cannot work together) and this resulted in their dispersion.
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. …Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
(God speaking)…Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other. So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth and they stopped building the city. –Genesis 11:1, 4, 7-8
As we know today, through modern genetics, the code for all races of people was passed down from Adam and Eve through Noah and on into the generations to come. Not only was language a common draw, but phenotypes (physical features) that the people already possessed. People groups (and thus the nations) developed as prevailing genetic characteristics were isolated.
Listen to this 13 minute clip for some insight to the Tower of Babel:
Current understanding of DNA gives us insight to skin color differences (and other traits) based on dominant and recessive genes in our genetic code:
Biology quiz: What phenotype (appearance) and genotype (genes) did Adam and Eve have?
Phenotype (the physical appearance)
Genotype (the pair of genes that are carried by a person that code for a specific trait. Each person carries a pair of genes [alleles]; only one from each parent is passed on to an offspring)
- Dark skin = Dominant genes (will always produce this physical appearance; covers up the recessive gene when paired with it)
- Light skin = Recessive genes (must have both parents with recessive genes for this physical appearance)
- Middle brown skin = Heterozygous genes (A person who has both dominant and recessive genes can carry the phenotype for both; this can include incomplete dominance that allows for variations)
Adam and Eve could only have had one of the following genotypes (letter assignments are for the gene alleles):
1. AABB = Dominant (can only have BB children)
Mom Dad Kids
AABB + AABB = AABB
or…
2. aabb = Recessive (can only have bb children)
Mom Dad Kids
aabb + aabb = aabb
or…
3. AaBb = Heterozygous (can have combinations)
Mom Dad Kids
AaBb + AaBb = AABB or aabb or AaBb (all types possible)
Note: This is a simplified explanation from an introductory biology course of complicated genetics and DNA coding.
Answer: In order to have children with the possibility of all skin colors they had to be middle brown (phenotype) with heterozygous genotypes:
Adam = AaBb
Eve = AaBb
- All combinations of skin color; eye color; tall-short; curly-straight hair; ear shape; nose shape; etc., are possible with parents who are both heterozygous.
- Adam and Eve would have been heterozygous for all traits.
If the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do? Psalm 11:3
Watch this insightful one hour Creation Ministries International program that covers some in-depth topics on the origin of the Nations:
Join us next week as we continue our study into Genesis: Why is Abraham such an important historical figure, and what kind of Covenant did God make with him?
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us this year as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.
Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.
Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.
Teri Dugan
Sorry, comments are closed for this post.