If people evolved from apes why are there still apes?

[Rebecca]

''We are still evolving.''

Pretty confident statement considering we will never be around to see this continuation.

Well, it is actually a bit of common sense, all we have to do is look back to the specimens of where we were to figure out where we are going.  People are certainly taller than they were just two thousand years ago, for instance. 

[Rebecca]

'I would hate to think that this still quite greedy and warlike human we still are is the end result of what we were meant to be.''

...and this can be construed to mean your religiosity can tell you there has to be a better explanation in terms ''of what we were meant to be''?

If your evolution viewpoint tells you we are still evolving and my presumed interpretation of your 'meant to be' is from a religious perspective then Christians and others are right when they say man will be a much better species when God returns to corrrect humanity's wayward disposition? Then God/ID and evolution work hand-in-hand?

If life is cyclical from an evolution-only standpoint then I find it odd that evolution has seen fit to equip most humans with an unrelenting image of a creator or two.

And yet, religion actually has very little to do with where I think that humankind should be.  Humans have learned to speak, create a language, civilzation and cities.  Dinosaurs weren't able to do that. Humans have proven to be surprisingly adaptable.  It would only make sense that one day we shall take measure to avoid things that might someday destroy ourselves.

[Andrew Waters]

''And yet, religion actually has very little to do with where I think that humankind should be.''

I was simply curious when you said ''what we were meant to be''. It read as if there was some other unknown answer from your (admittedly) religious perspective and not just you talking. No aggression here.

  ''Humans have learned to speak, create a language, civilzation and cities.  Dinosaurs weren't able to do that. Humans have proven to be surprisingly adaptable.''

My position tells me humans had no choice in the matter on adaptability; dinosaurs are unrelated to how humans overcame their environment.

''People are certainly taller than they were just two thousand years ago, for instance.''

I'm willing to bet some populations around the globe were as tall then as today. I'm not talking NBA-type players, just the average person. A lot of societies will have had individuals who would be taller than the norm, even two thousand years ago. 
 
 

[Rebecca]

''Humans have learned to speak, create a language, civilzation and cities.  Dinosaurs weren't able to do that. Humans have proven to be surprisingly adaptable.''

My position tells me humans had no choice in the matter on adaptability; dinosaurs are unrelated to how humans overcame their environment.

I disagree. Humans have been born with many gifts, true, they (we) are products of our envirnoment, yet we also have learned how to thrive in our environment.  Other creatures have sophisticated existences, too, and capable of organization - birds, ants, household pets, even, but humans have developed a culture that goes beyiond the need of mere survival.  The arts, literature and the sciences, for instance, yet have little to  do with human survival.

[Rebecca]

''People are certainly taller than they were just two thousand years ago, for instance.''

I'm willing to bet some populations around the globe were as tall then as today. I'm not talking NBA-type players, just the average person. A lot of societies will have had individuals who would be taller than the norm, even two thousand years ago. 

There are always exceptions to the rule, but the general trend seems to be that human beings have gotten taller.