that earlier ancestor would certainly be called an ape or monkey in popular speech by anyone who saw it. Since the terms ape and monkey are defined by popular usage, man’s ancestors were apes or monkeys (or successively both). It is pusillanimous if not dishonest for an informed investigator to say otherwise (1964, 121).-They arent so mistaken about the fact that we evolved from monkeys,......
So when you
> tell a creationist we were not descended from monkeys
then you were lying?
> asserts we descended from monkeys when nobody claims this
You just did. Make up your mind. Hint: Here's a quotation from George G. Simpson:
"On this subject, by the way, there has been too much pussyfooting. Apologists emphasize that man cannot be descendant of any living ape–-a statement that is obvious to the verge of imbecility–-and go on to state or imply that man is not really descended from an ape or monkey at all, but from an earlier common ancestor. In fact, that earlier ancestor would certainly be called an ape or monkey in popular speech by anyone who saw it. Since the terms ape and monkey are defined by popular usage, man’s ancestors were apes or monkeys (or successively both). It is pusillanimous if not dishonest for an informed investigator to say otherwise (1964, 121)."
They aren't so mistaken about the fact that we evolved from "monkeys", they just don't know how scientists define monkeys. They most likely believe that most primates and at least all modern and historical apes (excluding humans, of course) are of the "created kind" which they call "monkeys"
Of course biologists know better and have very specific names for very specific types of creatures, but it helps to remember that the creationist generally knows precious little except what some televangelist preacher has told them about the theory they so easily and so adamantly reject or of the basic science surrounding it. They are generally not formally trained biologists so to expect them to be totally accurate in their terminology is foolish.
I would suggest that it is not so important to correct their idea that scientists say we evolve from monkeys as it is to convey the basic point that evolution is a real and observable natural phenomenon and that microevolution clearly and inevitably leads to macroevolution when similar populations become isolated and begin to diverge. We can worry about what we call the organisms doing the evolving after we get rid of the YEC nonsense.
∞ times.
The reason that they doubt evolution is that their brain and reasoning doesn't hold well with claims scientists figure. Likewise, they are reluctant to change and reading-- or else they would not be asserting what is false.
Short-memories come from such close-mindedness-- I would suppose.
Most people who have irrational, bigoted, beliefs will continue to hold those beliefs not matter how many times they are told otherwise, because that is what they want to believe.
