# Why does God create Disabled Babies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 6, 2004, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929 "2004-01-06T02:04:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![IWLN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5ac83/32.png) [@IWLN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IWLN)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/21 "2004-01-06T03:51:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Susanann \* > 2. Of course Satan has free will, and he chose evil and darkness. He chose to rebel against God and took some demons with him. People also have the choice to choose good or evil, to join God’s team, or Lucifer’s team. Could you please cite OT reference to Satan’s rebellion? ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/22 "2004-01-06T03:54:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Susanann \* > **Of course Satan has free will, and he chose evil and darkness. He chose to rebel against God and took some demons with him. People also have the choice to choose good or evil, to join God’s team, or Lucifer’s team.** Of course, if God hadn’t intended for people to join Lucifer’s team, then He wouldn’t have created Lucifer in the first place. Thus it stands to reason that God _wanted_ humanity to fall from grace. Unless, of course, you assume a non-omnipotent or non-omniscient God. > [@](#): > > \*\*God is not the one that is doing that/harming/destroying your body and your eggs and your genes, YOU are. \*\* And if God is both omniscient and omnipotent, then we are doing exactly what God intended. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/23 "2004-01-06T04:08:06Z")
It’s not that god is evil - he’s an underachiever. ---
**Author:** ![IWLN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5ac83/32.png) [@IWLN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IWLN)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/24 "2004-01-06T04:13:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Susanann \* > 2. Of course Satan has free will, and he chose evil and darkness. He chose to rebel against God and took some demons with him. People also have the choice to choose good or evil, to join God’s team, or Lucifer’s team. Who was Lucifer? Angel, man, god? > [@](#): > > Actually, God “created” Adam and Eve, the first people, who did not have birth defects, and who had good genes which did not produce birth defects in their children. The first humans had no recorded diseases or defects, and lived a very long time - hundreds of years. They raised themselves a murderer. I’m not sure you can claim there were no birth defects or disease, just because it’s not in the Bible. There is talk of blindness and other infirmities fairly early. > [@](#): > > What you are seeing today, is thousands of years of humans polluting, tinkering, misuse of sex and other things, and in general, abusing their bodies and their genes. I take it you don’t believe in evolution? > [@](#): > > God is not the one that is doing that/harming/destroying your body and your eggs and your genes, YOU are. No, but nothing happens that he doesn’t want to happen. That still makes it G-d’s will. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/25 "2004-01-06T04:13:18Z")
and you are proof of that. No, not really. What do you think He could have done better (achieved)? ---
**Author:** ![Rodrigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Rodrigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodrigo)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/26 "2004-01-06T06:28:06Z")
Does the OP want to say that disabled babies are less than human or less worthy of living, so much so that we have to question God for them? ---
**Author:** ![Jonmarzie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jonmarzie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonmarzie)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/27 "2004-01-06T06:40:55Z")
I’m surprised that so many people here assume that because God is omnipotent, he would not allow birth defects/sin/other such things. The fact that God has infinite love trumps his desire to make everything perfect. The way I understand sin (and I’m not saying that birth defects are because of sin) is this way: 1. God loves his creation. 2. Because God loves his creation, he gave humanity free will, so that we have better and more fulfilling lives. 3. Unfortunately, humanity is incapable of choosing the correct path all of the time. 4. Therefore, the world is imperfect. 5. God cannot be anything but all powerful, all loving, and all just. 6. So, God must find a way to not hold our sins against us, and leave us with free will (imperfection), while still having the payment for sins. 7. Solution: Jesus God can’t make everything perfect, because he wants us to live fulfilling lives with free will. ---
**Author:** ![IWLN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5ac83/32.png) [@IWLN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IWLN)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/28 "2004-01-06T07:01:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonmarzie \* > 5) God cannot be anything but all powerful, all loving, and all just. > 6) So, God must find a way to not hold our sins against us, and leave us with free will (imperfection), while still having the payment for sins. Why does G-d need a payment for sins? He created sin. How can he hold our sin against us, when it’s part of his plan? I disagree with you almost completely, but am interested in your answers.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/29 "2004-01-06T07:12:23Z")
I certainly don’t know and don’t attempt to speculate anymore. I used to be a fundie Christian, and as I went to nursing school (at a Christian University, no less) I became more and more dissatisfied with the “God works in mysterious ways…God gives us these children to show us his love and strength…it helps to give us strength and wisdom, etc etc”. Then I became a Pediatric Nurse and a Pediatric Oncology Nurse and saw firsthand how these children suffered so needlessly. Now I’m not a Christian, more like an agnostic or atheist. No way I could rationalize a loving all powerful Supreme Being allowing these children to hurt so much. That’s all I got to say about that. Doesn’t answer the damn question anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/30 "2004-01-06T07:42:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonmarzie \* > **2) Because God loves his creation, he gave humanity free will, so that we have better and more fulfilling lives.** Begging the question. For all we know, _not_ having free will is more fulfilling than having it. I mean, that way we would get to experience the exact perfect sequence of events that would make every single person in the world utterly happy, as orchestrated by God. He could even throw in the _illusion_ of free will to keep us from being upset over not having free will. Obviously, God must have chosen not to go this route, and thus we have needless suffering. I mean, if you can never tell for certain whether or not free will is an illusion _anyway_, wouldn’t you rather be happy, with illusory free will, than miserable, with the real thing? > [@](#): > > **3) Unfortunately, humanity is incapable of choosing the correct path all of the time.** An omnipotent God could easily have created humans in such a way that they always choose the correct path, even under the constraints of free will. That He did not do so means that we were intended to stray, and thus should not be punished for doing exactly what God wanted us to do. [quote] **4) Therefore, the world is imperfect.**/quote]Again, an omnipotent God could have created a perfect world. That the world is imperfect is evidence that either: a) God does not exist b) God is not omnipotent or c) God desired to create an imperfect world. If the answer is ©, then you have to ask yourself, “why?” > [@](#): > > **6) So, God must find a way to not hold our sins against us, and leave us with free will (imperfection), while still having the payment for sins. > 7) Solution: Jesus** God “must find a way”? Huh? Assuming that God is omnipotent, He could just snap His fingers and say “you’re forgiven”. There’s no need for the middleman, and certainly no need for payment. Actually, since God supposedly created _everything_, “sin” is simply another of God’s fabrications. An omnipotent God could have made it so that nothing was a sin in the first place. That He did not must mean that we were _supposed_ to sin. That is was expected, or even required, of us. > [@](#): > > \*\*God can’t make everything perfect, because he wants us to live fulfilling lives with free will. \*\* Then God is not omnipotent, since an omnipotent God could give us free will and _still_ make everything perfect. I mean, that’s kind of what “omnipotent” _means_. No, there are just too many flaws when you attempt to apply “omnipotent”, “omniscient”, and “all loving” to a single being. It just doesn’t mesh with reality. ---
**Author:** ![IWLN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5ac83/32.png) [@IWLN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IWLN)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/31 "2004-01-06T08:38:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe Random \* > Then God is not omnipotent, since an omnipotent God could give us free will and _still_ make everything perfect. I mean, that’s kind of what “omnipotent” _means_. Why would he want everything perfect? What would be the point in our being here, if not to gain experiences? You don’t learn from perfect. He could have just twitched his nose and created us right into Heaven. I honestly think he wanted us to have all of the opportunities, good, bad and ugly and learn how to deal with them. If I could program my child to be a certain way or let him grow and at times crash and burn; I’ll keep buying helmets. I for one appreciate the chance I’ve had to be “wicked” and although I try not to make a habit of it, I am grateful for the choice. > [@](#): > > No, there are just too many flaws when you attempt to apply “omnipotent”, “omniscient”, and “all loving” to a single being. It just doesn’t mesh with reality. I do agree that there’s no conceivable reason why an all powerful G-d would need a “middleman” or a way to save us. We kind of took the whole reward and punishment thing and ran with it, beyond what was in the Bible. I think the churches way back then must have had a contest or something. I don’t see how knowing and doing what’s best for us is at odds with all powerful, all knowing and all loving. I have to assume G-d’s perspective is quite a bit wider and more informed than mine is. One would hope.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/32 "2004-01-06T09:25:46Z")
Enola, Because there is no monolithic GOD as per monotheism. According to my pantheistic theory, the Divine is the original substance, identifiable with the being-consciousness-bliss (sat-chit-ananda) of Indian thought. This substance became an infinite or near-infinite number of worlds, from which evil is not excluded because evil is not recognized until the Divine substance becomes conscious in the worlds it has become. In other words, the Divine does not ponder, then create. The Divine cannot even think until it becomes worlds in which beings like us can think and choose good or evil. My theory futher holds that any world will have a preponderance of good over evil, as moral evil (murder, etc.) tends to destroy itself, and natural evil (volcanoes, birth defects, etc.) tends to destroy those conscious beings that could perceive that world as evil. My 2c. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/33 "2004-01-06T12:36:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \* > \*\*Because God works in mysterious ways and we’re apparently too stupid to understand. > > :rolleyes: \*\* We can understand if we want too. First we need to stop blaming God, the devil, and anyone else that comes along, for all the bad things in this world. Everything exists for a reason. Try to look beyond good and evil. Love ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/34 "2004-01-06T14:09:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Aeschines \* > \*\*Enola, > > Because there is no monolithic GOD as per monotheism. > > According to my pantheistic theory, the Divine is the original substance, identifiable with the being-consciousness-bliss (sat-chit-ananda) of Indian thought. This substance became an infinite or near-infinite number of worlds, from which evil is not excluded because evil is not recognized until the Divine substance becomes conscious in the worlds it has become. > > In other words, the Divine does not ponder, then create. The Divine cannot even think until it becomes worlds in which beings like us can think and choose good or evil. > > My theory futher holds that any world will have a preponderance of good over evil, as moral evil (murder, etc.) tends to destroy itself, and natural evil (volcanoes, birth defects, etc.) tends to destroy those conscious beings that could perceive that world as evil. > > My 2c. \*\* That sounds like a religous version of the many worlds thoery of quantum mechanics, interesting to think about. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/35 "2004-01-06T14:29:37Z")
Sigh…not another one… Susanann said, > [@](#): > > God doesnt make them all. I know a few women who used drugs that had babies with severe birth defects, and I am not talking about prescribed medication like Thalydamide. You’re a christian and you’re saying god doesn’t make all the babies? He doesn’t make the broken babies? What about the broken babies born to god-fearing christian folk like yourself? How do you explain why they’re being punished with broken babies? ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/36 "2004-01-06T15:15:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > \*\*God is not a control freak. \*\* The book of Leviticus says you’re wrong. ---
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/37 "2004-01-06T15:38:31Z")
> [@](#): > > If I could program my child to be a certain way or let him grow and at times crash and burn; I’ll keep buying helmets. I for one appreciate the chance I’ve had to be “wicked” and although I try not to make a habit of it, I am grateful for the choice. And if you could cover up the electric outlets so your child won’t shock himself to death, you would, wouldn’t you? Congratulations. You’re a better parent than Our Father Who Art in Heaven. Of course, you can claim that we as a species are like God’s child, and our wars and plagues and wossnames are simply teething troubles. The problem is, what is a big enough problem that God would intercede? He doesn’t for 1, or 10, or 10,000,000. And if you believe that God would allow us to kill ourselves off completely without a parting of the clouds and a “Knock it off or you’ll feel the back of My hand,” then in what meaningful way is God caring for us like a parent? ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/38 "2004-01-06T15:41:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lekatt \* > \*\* First we need to stop blaming God, the devil, and anyone else that comes along, for all the bad things in this world. Everything exists for a reason. \*\* I’m going to surprise lekatt by agreeing with him here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/39 "2004-01-06T16:00:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rodrigo \* > \*\*Does the OP want to say that disabled babies are less than human or less worthy of living, so much so that we have to question God for them? \*\* I don’t claim that God made them inferior and thus disposable…WE make that judgement. I’m asking why God would plug a soul into a body WE consider damaged goods fit only to be thrown away? A soul WE don’t consider worth saving, nurturing, and investing in the future due to OUR criteria of what a worthwhile life is. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929/40 "2004-01-06T16:12:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > \*\*and now theyre faded. > > Sorry, that post just Lent itself to that. \*\* —I thought you have up bad puns for Lent? Of course, the obvious answer for many of us—the answer which explains disabled babies and a lot of other stuff—is that t’ain’t no such thing as gods. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-create-disabled-babies/222929.md?page=3)