Intelligent Design and Biological Flaws

[Triumphant_Loser]

The world is, undoubtedly, a world full of biological flaws; Down's Syndrome, Harlequin Ichthyosis disease, birth defects, extra limbs, missing limbs, vestigial organs, etc. How do supporters of intelligent design explain these flaws in humans, (as well as animals,) while maintaining a belief that everything was intelligently designed?

 

[Faybull]

If I were never to fall, how would I know to pick myself up?

 

[George-ananda]

My belief is life was fostered by higher intelligence/nature spirits. They are beyond us in their intelligence but they are still finite beings not omniscient and omnipotent. They learn through evolution what works and doesn't work.

 

[Triumphant_Loser]

If I were never to fall, how would I know to pick myself up?

A tad vague. What do you mean by that?

 

[Faybull]

My belief is life was fostered by higher intelligence/nature spirits. They are beyond us in their intelligence but they are still finite beings not omniscient and omnipotent. They learn through evolution what works and doesn't work.

still finite beings not omniscient and omnipotent. I agree.

 

[Faybull]

A tad vague. What do you mean by that?

Well, cousind

A tad vague. What do you mean by that?

It is okay, really. I don't even remember posting that. LOL! But seriously, birth defects are related to what? I think you may have a misconception into genetic diversity. If I am drinking an unusual amount of fluoride or arsenic in my water, and my child is born with 3 legs? I have altered the course of my genetic disposition, and thus, my offsprings' disposition.

 

[Thana]

The world is, undoubtedly, a world full of biological flaws; Down's Syndrome, Harlequin Ichthyosis disease, birth defects, extra limbs, missing limbs, vestigial organs, etc. How do supporters of intelligent design explain these flaws in humans, (as well as animals,) while maintaining a belief that everything was intelligently designed?

No where in the bible does it promise perfection in this life, In fact it promises the opposite.
I don't know where you got the idea to expect it.

 

[Triumphant_Loser]

Well, cousind

It is okay, really. I don't even remember posting that. LOL! But seriously, birth defects are related to what? I think you may have a misconception into genetic diversity. If I am drinking an unusual amount of fluoride or arsenic in my water, and my child is born with 3 legs? I have altered the course of my genetic disposition, and thus, my offsprings' disposition.

But what about the children born from two healthy parents, yet still have a defected child? A couple that goes to my aunt's church were both completely normal and healthy, yet managed to have a child with Down's Syndrome. How is this so in a world which is supposedly designed by a sentient being?

 

[Triumphant_Loser]

No where in the bible does it promise perfection in this life, In fact it promises the opposite.
I don't know where you got the idea to expect it.

So God can make mistakes as far as human design goes then?

 

[Kolibri]

So God can make mistakes as far as human design goes then?

It isn't the design that is flawed, it is that the prototype was damaged before it was copied.

 

[Thana]

So God can make mistakes as far as human design goes then?

And how did you come to the conclusion that they're mistakes?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

The world is, undoubtedly, a world full of biological flaws; Down's Syndrome, Harlequin Ichthyosis disease, birth defects, extra limbs, missing limbs, vestigial organs, etc. How do supporters of intelligent design explain these flaws in humans, (as well as animals,) while maintaining a belief that everything was intelligently designed?

The Fall of man resulted in glitches in the DNA, among other things.

 

[Triumphant_Loser]

And how did you come to the conclusion that they're mistakes?

I did not. I was asking if that is what you believed. Either it is a mistake, God purposely brought it upon them, or just doesn't care enough to do anything about it.

 

[Thana]

I did not. I was asking if that is what you believed. Either it is a mistake, God purposely brought it upon them, or just doesn't care enough to do anything about it.

I believe it was on purpose. And before you pity them and blame God, We all have our crosses to bear. There's are simply more obvious.

There are no mistakes when you're talking about an omnipotent omniscient being.

 

[Triumphant_Loser]

The Fall of man resulted in glitches in the DNA, among other things.

Is there any scriptural evidence that that mutations and diseases were brought about by the fall of Adam and Eve?

 

[nazz]

The world is, undoubtedly, a world full of biological flaws; Down's Syndrome, Harlequin Ichthyosis disease, birth defects, extra limbs, missing limbs, vestigial organs, etc. How do supporters of intelligent design explain these flaws in humans, (as well as animals,) while maintaining a belief that everything was intelligently designed?

Easy. Imperfect intelligent design. Either that or something malicious.

 

[Triumphant_Loser]

There are no mistakes when you're talking about an omnipotent omniscient being.

"And the LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled." -Genesis 6:6

How can you regret something that you don't believe is a mistake?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Is there any scriptural evidence that that mutations and diseases were brought about by the fall of Adam and Eve?

I don't think there's a verse that specifically says that but the teaching is that the Fall introduced sin and death into the world, i.e. all imperfection. Eventually, all things will be made right again when Heaven and Earth are remade and we're given glorified bodies.

 

[Triumphant_Loser]

I don't think there's a verse that specifically says that but the teaching is that the Fall introduced sin and death into the world, i.e. all imperfection.

Then what did carnivorous animals eat? Plants wouldn't have had the nourishment to sustain them, and they couldn't kill prey. Would there have been grazing lions/tigers/bears?

 

[Kolibri]

Either it is a mistake, God purposely brought it upon them, or just doesn't care enough to do anything about it.

It is the promises of the Bible that God does indeed care, but a relatively short period of time is required to prove a charge made in the Garden of Eden as false. The charge was that God was a bad ruler and humans would be better off on their own. The evidence to the contrary has been gathered. Soon the situation will be reversed.

It is hard to prove scientifically since there are no perfect humans to test today. But the Bible does provide a clear reason for old age, sickness and death. What is odd is that science can keep human tissue alive indefinitely in a petri dish but our bodies do break down otherwise.

And no resident (or "inhabitant.") will say: "I am sick."
The people dwelling in the land will be pardoned for their error.
- Isaiah 33:24

Seems carnivorous animals will have a diet change too.

The cow and the bear will feed together,
And their young will lie down together.
The lion will eat straw like the bull.
- Isaiah 11:7