You’ve heard comedians’ versions of well-known fairy tales, twisted for their purpose—to get laughs. The facts of Neanderthals have been distorted to bolster evolution. It’s typical of Satan to use things that should glorify God to try to turn people away from God. He does this with creation, with God’s amazing designs found throughout the universe, with fossils that should serve as a warning of God’s hatred of sin, with the gift of marriage, sex, children, etc. There are scores of other examples, but every time I see articles about Neanderthals being sub-human, primitive, or stupid, I get a little upset. Even using the name “Neanderthal” upsets me.

The facts behind the story

Joachim Neander (1650—1680) was a godly young man who often walked in a valley in Germany and meditated on the things of God. He wrote the song still used in nearly every Church hymnal today: “Praise to The Lord, The Almighty, the King of Creation.” After he died, the valley was named after him—Neander Valley. Then in the 1850’s, during some quarry work, a petrified skeleton was uncovered (not his) and named the Neanderthal man. The back was stooped over and the eyebrow ridge larger than normal. It was quickly determined that these were the bones of an old man who suffered from diseases.

Neanderthals reinvented for Darwin’s theory

Several years later, Darwin’s book came out, in which he predicted that people would find fossil evidence that man and animals slowly changed into other kinds of animals. After years of digging, none of these fossils were found (and still have not been discovered), so someone suggested dragging the poor old Neanderthal man out of his resting place and using him as evidence for Darwin’s theory.

To date, about 300 “Neanderthal” skeletons have been found in many parts of Europe. Dr. Jack Cuozzo has written an excellent book explaining the truth about the Neanderthals, Buried Alive. In it he clearly shows that the “Neanderthals” are fully human and were living to great ages—maybe more than 300 years! Read Genesis 5 and 11 carefully and you will see that after the flood, people still lived to be  400 years old for several generations. (See the entire lineage from Adam to Joseph on our Longevity Chart.)

Non-biased study needed

All of these Neanderthal skeletons that are being discovered ought to be used by scientists to bring people to believe the Bible not to doubt it! The bones are great visual aids to show how man has degraded, not advanced. They could be used to teach God’s Word, demonstrate that people used to live to be 400, but were diseased after the flood maybe from climate-induced problems such as lack of sun, ice ages, etc.

Christians everywhere should write letters to the editor, teach classes in schools, churches, libraries and on the street to bring glory to God for His creation, using the Neanderthal bones as evidence of the Bible’s truth. That’s the way Joachim would want it. Why not sing his song today and focus on the amazing words? Then do what it says—praise God!

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning;
sheltering you under his wings, and so gently sustaining!
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
sent by his gracious ordaining?

Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriends you.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from his people again;
gladly forever adore him.