So, just what are we talking about?

[kandrathe]

Some might say we ascended from apes. :D But, based on our actions, maybe descended is more accurate. I know you are using it in the context of us being descendants from a pre-human ancestor.

The answer to your questions would be different depending on what Christians you spoke with. Some are biblical literalists and refuse to even consider any fossil or genetic evidence, others accept it wholeheartedly and think it is a revelation of the greater mystery of a type of guided creation. I think the majority would consider it an interesting introspection, but irrelevant to being a Christian. They don't know how creation happened and so beyond the ancient myth of Genesis, they cannot speculate on how it might have happened. But, they are pretty certain about their relationship with God, and they would say that it is all that really matters. The history of theology is filled with these types of "crucial" questions, like "Did Christ own anything?" or "How did God impregnate Mary, and what did Joseph think about it." In the past they were the basis of quite heated arguments, and even inquisitions, and burning heretics at the stake.

There is quite alot of evidence of ancient proto humans and pre homo sapiens like primates, so from what I've read, a gradual evolution from a bonobo like creature toward a more upright, intelligent, and hairless human is the most likely evolutionary path. Whether or not God had a hand in it, I don't know.

I haven't seen anything scientific that would lead me to believe that aliens exist, let alone altered anything on our planet.