Such cases are not just tragic, but extremely cruel. They not only argue against "intelligent design," but also are capable of shaking one's faith in religion.
Thank you for the advice. I think it works this way. I also think this is an important debate to have.
Reality in general cannot be reconciled with intelligent design.
I doubt these images, as horrible as they are, really shake anyone's beliefs in God or Intelligent Design. These cases you show are exceptions, not the rule.
All I can say is that if this is the best you can do it is pretty sad.
These clear examples of the effect of sin and corruption of the original design resulting from man's rebellion against God (Genesis 3)
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." - 1 Cor 13:12
Wrong!
Your arguments are exactly why intelligent design is a must.
Your "science" supposes that these lives are worthless. You provide photos so that the aesthetics can govern our rationality. These are not humans-- but monsters. Therefore, we should allow our human discernment to kill them prior to birth and more importantly fully engage the "moral" task of sorting the strong from the weak.
No aspect of physical deformity or defect can demean the metaphysical commitments of valuing human life. The intellectual war against intelligent design is a war to rationalize human life. Showing us shocking pictures of deformed humanity will not do it.
You are not god nor are any of your rational censorship loving pals. We are endowed by our creator-- even if you don't like our looks.
I think everything in life is capable of shaking your faith of God's existance. But in a way, that's the point. You have to find God of your own accord, especially in the difficult times.
Loving God and having faith doesn't mean that life is perfect, no matter what the Oprah-Televangelists tell you.. The early martyrs of the Church are a perfectly good example of that.
ID assumes purpose. It might be that a perfect specimen exists nowhere, ever, nor would the existence of a perfect specimen be part of the purpose. Not one perfect specimen of anything. If there is a perfection, there can be only one.
I think that the design is wonderful-I also think the design can be corrupted by external forces,such as chemicals in the food chain,background radiation,and who knows what else.All this has no effect on my faith.
Do you really believe God hates you as much as you hate him?
How so? Perhaps an eternity of bliss in the afterlife awaits the afflicted.
A myopic argument......by this same philosophy, I would assume that evolutionary principles also would not apply to such genetic abnormality. Is not the purpose of evolution for a species to continue in an upward development? As a species developed would not it conquer such aberration?
I tend to think that such difficulties would actually draw individuals closer to a higher power. This utter helplessness only makes one search for strength in something greater.
You cite one terrible aspect of life and use it to discredit religion.
Why not point to your own head and use it to credit religion?
I am going to throw my $.02 worth in on this. First of all my son has Down Syndrome. I can reconcile this debate. My son is a Blessing & a gift from the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! He teaches me everyday about uncondtional love. No matter how bad my day has been to hear Lance go "Hi Dadda" makes all better. I firmly believe that he is an Angel sent to earth to teach about love.
Nuff Said
From the Darwinian p.o.v.: Fitness doesn't mean the unfit should survive. Nature absolves its own inefficiencies.
From the logical / existential p.o.v.: Evidence of an opposite is not proof that one or the other doesn't or can't exist. It does not follow that evidence of hot water means there is no cold water, or that evidence of death means there is no life.
From the ancient p.o.v. there are two principles that are fundamental (they still hold this view that chaos and complexity are complementary universal principles
From the monotheistic p.o.v. evil is not a divine principle; evidence of evil points to other causes. There is also a distinction between moral and nature evil.
And finally, no matter which is preferred, evil still there exists. To be human, we are designed to struggle against it.
This shakes your faith in religion.
I'm not sure it has anything to say about ID other than that, like a car running down with age, natural processes have an impact on design.
Why does it shake your faith?
Does the existence of birth defects prove that any potential designer wasn't very intelligent? Good question. Does the existence of death do the same thing?