Bones of Contention: A Creationist Assessment of the Human Fossils

Lubenow takes the results of his research over the past 35+ years and illustrates how the hominid fossil data published among the scientific community does not fit the theory of evolution as they claim it does. Evolutionists, of course, would disagree but Lubenow takes the fossil record as a whole, instead of a selective sampling of the data, and shows that even while using the established evolutionists' dates, the fossils do not fit evolution. One of his greatest strengths is his comprehensive fossil hominid chart demonstrating his main premise. Why is such a chart lacking in the evolutionist arsenal? Perhaps because it shows the exact opposite of what they'd like the public to believe. Lubenow shows that the entire hominid fossil record can be explained, perhaps even better, without the use of evolution. After astutely observing that it is absolutely impossible to prove that any fossil has ever evolved into another (such relationships can only be speculated), he takes the reader on an enlightening journey through the human fossil material. By showing that the supposed transitional fossils are contemporaneous with everything from modern Homo sapiens to Australopithecus, he shows that such a timeline does not favor evolution any more than it does special creation. His conclusions are solid and straightforward. How does Lubenow explain the existence of Homo neanderthalensis, Homo erectus, Homo habilis, and the like? His answer is as simple as it is surprising: the fossils we have are all either humans (neanderthalensis/erectus/(some habilis)) or they are extinct apes (some habilis)/Australopithecus. How does he account for anatomical differences between modern H. sapiens and the others? He explains that such differences could easily be the result of rickets/syphillis and similar pathological conditions. In other words, human fossils simply show a great deal of variation among the same species. Humans are all human, apes are all apes. Just becuase a neanderthal has thick brow ridges and slightly flatter skull doesn't make it a different creature, it's a human like you and me. He backs up his diagnosis by joining it with his theory that the world-wide Genesis flood caused the ice age and led to exactly the kind of conditions necessary to cause those pathological conditions. Evolutionists like to claim that relatively recent discoveries (like Dmanisi) show that the gap between apes and man is illusory. They neglect to mention, however, that such discoveries were just as much a shock to the evolutionist community (i.e. blew 'African Eve' out of the water). What they fail to see is that such transitional fossils are contemporaneous with fossils that can be qualified as modern H. sapiens (KNM ER 1470, 1590, 1472, 1481) so the transition is disqualified. In addition, their claim that the cranial capacity of the Dmanisi skulls bridges the gap between Australopithecus and Homo is silenced by the fact that they resort to a pathological explanation of

Let me be clear from the start that I am not a very religious person. I am a firm believer in follwing the scientific evidence wherever it leads. Even though this book is written by a creationist, there is no knee-jerk fundamentalist Christianity underlying the book. This book focuses on the evidence against evolution and the deceit many scientists use to bolster the alleged "evidence" of evolution. Lubenow has done his research and does not attempt to overstate it ormake things fit into a creationist view. The evidence speaks for itself and proponents of Darwinian evolution should be extremely nervous about books like this. It's raising serious questions about their flawed evolutionary theories.

As a professor of the humanities and the social sciences as well as a creationist this book is in simple terms "AWESOME." Not only does it really make the reader understand what the human fossils mean but it shows how Evolution is in turmoil! I recommend this book for all to know the truth about evolution because after reading it, one can only be in denial if they still find comfort in Darwin's theory! Great Book!

While some religious evolutionist extremist scoffers have said such things:"I wish I could give this less than one star This book is horrifying. I am continually amazed at the misinformation so many insist upon spreading about science, especially evolutionary biology. It horrifies me that a book like this can be published and treated as if it has any scientific validity whatsoever. "Scientific" creationsim is not science, it is merely thinly veiled religious dogma. This book distorts the writings of real scientists to support its beliefs and ignores scientific evidence when it does not suit the author's purpose. This book is fundamentalist Christianity disguised in scientific clothing for ulterior religious motives. As a Christian, and a scientist, I hope that everyone who reads this book will read it with St. Thomas Aquinas' words in mind, "The truth of our faith becomes a matter of ridicule among the infidels if any Christian, not gifted with the necessary scientific learning, presents as dogma what scientific scrutiny shows to be false.", I, a former hardcore atheist/evolutionist, found the book to be extremely honest, excellent in its scholarship, extremely well documented with references from original sources and with enough documentation for anyone who is really and truly scientifically objective to actually research it and see if it is true or not, which indicates that the author is not interested in his own opinion, but rather the facts of science as they are laid out on the table for all who are interested to see, without interpretation. Which is why evolutionists hate it. Exposition and education are not exactly what evolutionists like.

It's too bad that this book has the word "Creationist" in the subtitle. That allows the Darwinist knee-cappers to invoke their favorite bogeyman to discredit it. This book positively bristles with scholarship, confidence, and good cheer. I don't know who Marvin L. Lubenow is, but he is thoroughly at home in this subject matter. I guess because of the title I expected something dogmatic, full of Bible quotes to "prove" the assertions. Oh, the scripture is here and there, but its appearance in incredibly disarming. It has an effect like going out for a beer and having an `off-the-record' conversation with an opponent after a heated debate. The author's basic decency is pervasive. There is no hyperbole or vitriol and he really tries to get into the head of his opponents, showing both exceptional insight and empathy. His shining truth that all of us look at the world through the lenses of our own biases is beautiful in its simplicity and noble in its honesty. He argues persuasively that the very concept of the scientific method (at least as defined by scientists) is an illusion. Brilliant.All the criticism of this book I've found focuses on knocking down the notion that groups in the evolutionary sequence cannot overlap. Not only do I find the critics reasoning to be faulty (in light of the hominid fossil record), it's a really a minor part of Lubenow's case. Neo-Darwinists ignore this book or dismiss it with their usual personal attacks and bigotry at their own peril. If you're a creationist and looking for a scripturally-based defense of your beliefs, or if you're a Darwinist true-believer looking for a strawman to knock down, this book isn't for you.