While I was scrolling through my Facebook feed a headline grabbed my attention. “Autism Linked With DNA Our Ancestors Inherited From Neanderthals“.
The article stated that, “Some time deep in our evolutionary past, most likely more than once, a significant amount of Neanderthal DNA became mixed in with our own, influencing everything from how we now fight illness to even our appearance.” (Science Alert)
This brought to mind some statements Ellen White had made about the amalgamation of man and beast:
“But if there was one sin above another which called for the destruction of the race by the flood, it was the base crime of amalgamation of man and beast which defaced the image of God, and caused confusion everywhere.” — Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 3, p. 642
“Since the flood there has been amalgamation of man and beast, as may be seen in the almost endless varieties of species of animals, and in certain races of men.” — Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 3, p. 752
Recent apologists have argued that she did not mean interbreeding between humans and animals, because this was thought biologically implausible. Some suggest she referred to interracial or interfaith unions, especially between the “sons of God” and “daughters of men” in Genesis 6. Others interpret “amalgamation” as Satanic corruption of creation, including unnatural species and moral decline.
𝗨𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲:
In the early reception of Ellen White’s “amalgamation” statements; In 1868, Uriah Smith, a highly regarded supporter of White, produced a pamphlet titled “The Visions of Mrs. E.G. White: A Manifestation of Spiritual Gifts According to the Scriptures”, which defended her comments about the “amalgamation of man and beast” (published by the Review & Herald). Smith was clear that she was referring to a literal interbreeding between humans and animals, and stated that these groups included the Bushmen of Africa, certain Hottentot tribes, and possibly Digger Indians were the result of such unions.
Smith stated, “Moreover, naturalists affirm that the line of demarcation between the human and animal races is lost in confusion. It is impossible, as they affirm, to tell just where the human ends and the animal begins. Can we suppose that this was ordained of God in the beginning? Rather has not sin marred the boundaries of these two kingdoms?”
The White Estate states that Ellen White never hinted at subhuman beings or any kind of animal-human hybridization. However, this explanation fails to account for James White’s endorsement of Uriah Smith’s pamphlet, which defended the literal interpretation of “amalgamation of man and beast.” James claimed to have “carefully read the manuscript” and called it a valuable defense of Ellen’s prophetic gift. Not only that—both James and Ellen transported thousands of copies to distribute (sell) at camp meetings that year. Considering Ellen White’s well-established candor and her history of publicly correcting theological error, her silence on this issue is difficult to ignore. If she had opposed Smith’s interpretation, one would expect her to say so—clearly and firmly.
The pamphlet backfired in many ways. Smith’s defence implied that certain racial groups were subhuman hybrids, an offensive and scientifically unfounded claim. Instead of calming dissent, the pamphlet hardened literalist readings and made it harder for later Adventist scholars to reinterpret the statements metaphorically. It also complicated views of prophetic authority. The endorsement by both Uriah and James White suggested institutional support for a biologically implausible and ethically troubling view. The troublesome statements were omitted from her later work Patriarchs and Prophets (1890).
Later Adventist thinkers, such as Frank Marsh in the 1940s, tried to reframe “amalgamation” as interbreeding among animal species, not between humans and animals. By then the statements had become a flashpoint for debates about inspiration, race, and science.
Yet, after all this time with so many people trying to reframe her statements, should we re-examine Ellen White’s “amalgamation of man and beast” as referring to Neanderthals or other archaic hominins, rather than the layman’s definition of animals?
Is it possible that Neanderthal DNA crossing with Homo Sapiens DNA was what Ellen White had been shown? Neanderthals are not considered as human by anthropologists and the amalgamation, in layman’s terms, is therefore between man and beast.
𝗔𝗿𝗴𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
19th-Century Scientific Awareness: Neanderthals were first identified in 1856, and by the 1860s–70s, discussions about prehistoric humans were circulating in scientific and popular literature. As an avid reader Ellen White may have been exposed to these novel ideas.
“Beast” as Subhuman or Degenerate: In some theological frameworks, “beast” refers to morally or spiritually degraded humans. If Ellen White viewed Neanderthals, or similar hominins, as degenerate post-Fall beings, she may have used “beast” to describe them metaphorically.
“Certain races of men” and degeneration: While this raises racial implications, it also opens the door to viewing Neanderthals as part of that “confused” lineage.
Advanced Antediluvian Civilization: Ellen White described pre-Flood humans as intellectually superior and technologically advanced. If Neanderthals were seen as remnants of a corrupted or devolved branch of humanity, it is possible that they could fit her narrative of degeneration through amalgamation.
Satanic Engineering: She later wrote that Satan used “ingenious methods of amalgamation” to corrupt creation (Selected Messages, Book 2, p. 288). This could be interpreted as a proto-genetic manipulation—perhaps even hybridisation between human and subhuman forms.
Could this interconnection between Neanderthals and modern humans serve as a proof that Ellen White was right all along?
References:
Science Alert https://www.sciencealert.com/autism-linked-with-dna-our-ancestors-inherited-from-neanderthals
Amalgamation of Man and Beast, White Estate – https://is.gd/PnZG7m
The Visions of Mrs. E. G. White (1868), The Visions, Objections Answered. Uriah Smith, Internet Archive.
https://archive.org/details/UriahSmithTheVisionsOfMrs.E.G.White1868/page/n103/mode/2up?q=Africa
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