[Texas_Jarhead]

"They not only argue against "intelligent design," but also are capable of shaking one's faith in religion."

This appears to be along the same lines as "why does God allow natural disasters to occur". Where in the Christian faith are we promised a perfect Earthly existence? I think this is just a veiled attempt at ridicule. No surprise there though.

[Wolfstar]

Where in the Christian faith are we promised a perfect Earthly existence? I think this is just a veiled attempt at ridicule.

First, to me this is not a question of religious faith, but of intelligent design as a scientific argument. There is no attempt at ridicule whatsoever. Quite the opposite. I am open to being won over to the intelligent design argument if it can be reconciled with the fact that birth defects and other defects exist.

[heartwood]

I'm not sure Wolfstar was ridiculing - they are tragedies that disturb one's faith. You don't even need ugliness or deformity to haunt you - I miscarried two children who died of genetic defects - and on ultrasound they were exquisite, the most finely made things I have ever seen. Why were they created to die so soon?

It's not just defects in design - it's design carried out perfectly. Tigers. Tapeworms.

God send the day when the lion lies down with the lamb and there is no more weeping.