Neanderthals, an extinct species of human, present a point of consideration for Christian belief. The response to their existence and place in the narrative of human origins varies across different Christian denominations and individual interpretations of scripture. At the core lies the question of how Neanderthals relate to the biblical account of creation, particularly the creation of Adam and Eve.
Historically, interpretations have ranged from viewing Neanderthals as pre-Adamic humans, creatures outside the scope of the soul-bearing descendants of Adam, to considering them fully human members of the Homo genus, descendants of Adam and Eve who diversified after the dispersal from the Garden of Eden. The acceptance of scientific findings regarding Neanderthal DNA and their interbreeding with Homo sapiens further shapes the discussion. Some emphasize the image of God in all humans, thereby including Neanderthals, while others focus on specific interpretations of Genesis to explain the differences between Neanderthals and modern humans.
