Neanderthals are a popular topic with those who like to think about things other than salvation. There are endless articles on the Neanderthals’ genetic background, eating habits, dwellings, supposed family groupings, hypothetical migratory patterns, and possible medical practices.
Many who describe themselves as “scientists” wonder, breathlessly: “Did the Neanderthals interbreed with our own ancestors?”
Most of those writing on the subject have exactly enough information to be stretched into scholarly articles and papers. When excerpts trickle into popular media outlets, most of us enjoy absorbing such information. It makes us think we are knowledgeable about this “vital, scholarly endeavor”. It’s a great aid to vanity because it helps us to believe we are smarter and better educated because we have such deep, intellectual interests and concerns.
The lunacy of “studying” Neanderthals reached a high point several years ago. Then, several “scientists”, pseudo-intellectuals proven to be capable enough of stringing facts, theories, and nonsense together to “earn” a PhD in the supposed field, suggested that the “h” in the name be silent.
The new, politically correct pronunciation, “Neandertals”, was embraced by all who wanted to make a living in the small, but lucrative Neanderthal/tal Business. Several of the “scientists” left readers with the clear impression that “Neandertal” is the pronunciation that was preferred by the ancient peoples, themselves, when referring to themselves.
The especially enlightened in the Neanderthal Business enjoy correcting people who say “Neanderthal”. They use any such mispronunciation as an opportunity for instructing them in the proper way to pronounce the word. “Tal! Tal! It’s ‘Neandertal!”, many will say, sometimes raising their voices to imbue the instruction with an importance that it is impossible for it to otherwise have.
Catholic Fundamentalism has one teaching on the subject: “It is a waste of time, effort, and money to study such things. It is a universal truth that human beings are better off spending their time thinking about saving their souls and working to that end. Mindless distractions are there precisely because those who want us to live in error provide them for us.”
Those who worry excessively about Neanderthals and Neandertals,or any other real or imaginary programmed entities have switched off the Abrahamic God Receptor Gene that allows us to save our souls.
