Neanderthals vs. Homo Sapiens

While reading the last two assigned writings, I made some distinct connections between the intelligence of both species and how it relates to religious thought. In class on Friday, we discussed whether or not Neaderthals could have had religious beliefs in their time of existence, and what differentiates humans from this very similar species. The article we read for class on Neaderthals clearly focused on the theory that the species did not have the higher intellectual function that the later homo sapiens relatives seemed to have. Although we have no exact proof that this is true, scientists have found very little evidence of Neaderthals ability for symbolic language. They must have had the ability to communicate, or else they would not have been able to function and survive as a social group for as long as they did. Yet we find no evidence of language, which is a crucial sign of a higher intelligence. We find no evidence of expression (other than potentially vocal music). This brings us to human's mental capability for metaphor. We as humans display an ability to see things for more than what they are expected to be. We are able to use things in a different way than may be initially anticitpated. We have found no proof that Neaderthals had this ability to think innovatively, and that is what seperates them from Homo Sapiens. This metaphorical capabilty is what leads to art, science and religion, none of which Neanderthals seemed to have.

Applying this theory of metaphorical thinking and it's influence on religious thought to the other article we read about Paleolithic art, we see plenty of this evidence in the Paleolithic people of our ancestry. Their art is scattered within caves of Southern Europe, and we see forms of expression in these artifacts that indicate an innovative intelligence. The Paleolithic people also showed innovation and expression in their tools and weapons. Unlike the Neanderthals, Paleolithic people made weapons that not only functioned as hunting tools, but they were also shaped and carved decoratively. They also combined materials such as bone, antlers and stone to make more effective weapons. This shows that they had the ability to think metaphorically. They were able to see materials and use them differently than expected. This is a big difference from the more primative work of the Neaderthals. Based solely on these particular characteristics I mentioned earlier,the Paleolithic people's ability to think in ways that we think today (metaphorically, innovatively) indicates the potential for religious thought to have existed for these communities of people.