Does God give people handicaps?

[Yorkshireman]

If a woman is born without a uterus and as a result can’t have children how much was God involved in her unfortunate state? Does he actively decide, “That woman shall have no uterus,” or does he just allow these things just happen?

The thing is I don’t want to believe in a god that knowingly/deliberately allows people to have handicaps.

If he didn’t know that someone was going to be born with a handicap and just lets nature take its course then for me all that stuff people are given about how their handicap is a test for them or their parents is nonsense.

If God didn’t know someone was going to be handicapped how can he have intended the handicap - the handicap he didn’t know about - to be a test?

 

[puzzleannie]

no these are defects of nature, because nature like all creation has been injured by original sin. The perfect laws of nature endowed by the Creator have been disordered by original sin, as has all of creation including human nature. God does not actively will any disorder or suffering in any of his creatures, but the laws of nature he created will continue to operate, and will work to compensate for any disorder or disruption they encounter often in ways that injure the organism.

What God does will is that no matter what situation his human creature faces in life, no matter what the disorder or suffering, that it be turned over to his love and mercy so that he can make it an occasion of grace and of that individual’s salvation. Every circumstance of the life we are born into is a test. The handicapped person is tested by that and is to learn through God’s grace to use it for good and cooperate with God’s will for him. The person graced with good looks, wealth, talent is tested in that way, different, but still a challenge to conform to God’s will for his life.

 

[abucs]

I agree with PuzzleAnne. To a large extent it is the dealing of natures cards rather than a pre ordained decision from God.

That being said, people with disabilities, and the people around them can relate to God and eachother through those disabilities which can be seen as a trial or a chance to show compassion and selflessness.

So it would be a test in how people respond to nature rather than God purposely not forming a uterus to create a situation. People also have to respond to being small, unpopular, plain looking, puberty, rejected, old age, friend dying, having cancer etc. I think it makes more sense to see life in its entirety as a trial or a chance to overcome the inevitable problems rather than God zapping people with misfortune - in my humble opinion.

 

[Yorkshireman]

The church accepts Darwin’s Theory Of Evolution. There is nothing in biological science revealing a place for original sin in explaining how people got handicapped. Scientists talk about mutations.

I find your answer unsatisfactory. I think we need a modern explanation from the church that fits in with what we know about genetics. I need to be believe in a God that somehow is off the hook when it comes to handicapped people.

 

[puzzleannie]

God creates each of us in his image. We are each a total person. We are not defined and identified by our uterus, deformity, intellect, talent, looks or any other attribute.

 

[Rascalking]

No He doesn’t. Sometimes, (and people might hate this answer) it boils down to, simply put, bad luck.

 

[Call_Me_V]

If a woman is born without a uterus and as a result can’t have children how much was God involved in her unfortunate state? Does he actively decide, “That woman shall have no uterus,” or does he just allow these things just happen?

The thing is I don’t want to believe in a god that knowingly/deliberately allows people to have handicaps.

If he didn’t know that someone was going to be born with a handicap and just lets nature take its course then for me all that stuff people are given about how their handicap is a test for them or their parents is nonsense.

If God didn’t know someone was going to be handicapped how can he have intended the handicap - the handicap he didn’t know about - to be a test?

Well, you might check this out, Exodus 4:10-12 “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. “Who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?” Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” It seems to me like God is saying that he, personally chooses who is eloquent or not, dumb, blind, deaf, or not, and that that is why Moses has nothing to worry about, because it’s up to God who receives what gifts or curses, and therefore God can clearly give Moses the power of good public speaking. Does this answer your question?

V

 

[1ke]

If a woman is born without a uterus and as a result can’t have children how much was God involved in her unfortunate state? Does he actively decide, “That woman shall have no uterus,” or does he just allow these things just happen?

The thing is I don’t want to believe in a god that knowingly/deliberately allows people to have handicaps.

God *allows *disease, defect, etc. Original Sin created the disordered state into which humans are born. As Puzzleannie said, these can be united to Christ’s suffering for the salvation of souls.

If he didn’t know that someone was going to be born with a handicap and just lets nature take its course then for me all that stuff people are given about how their handicap is a test for them or their parents is nonsense.

If God didn’t know someone was going to be handicapped how can he have intended the handicap - the handicap he didn’t know about - to be a test?

God is omnipotent. He knows everything that has happened and ever will happen. That is not the same thing as causing a disease/defect in a specific person.

 

[1ke]

The church accepts Darwin’s Theory Of Evolution.

Not exactly. The Church certainly has no problem with science attempting to explain the way in which nature changes over time, Darwin included. Science, however, has limits. Science attempts to explain the natural world, to the degree it can.

There is nothing in biological science revealing a place for original sin in explaining how people got handicapped. Scientists talk about mutations.

Our souls are not biological. Therefore, science does not speak to the topic. Science does not speak to every topic.

I find your answer unsatisfactory. I think we need a modern explanation from the church that fits in with what we know about genetics.

The Truth is what it is. It is the only explanation the Church can give. I fail to see how the science of genetics is incompatible with the Church’s teaching. I see no conflict.

I need to be believe in a God that somehow is off the hook when it comes to handicapped people.

Why?

 

[larry85704]

Start by considering what a handicap is.

I cannot use my right arm. Not my fault, I was run over by another driver. Not God’s fault either.

Now, I have an education, career, family, friends and a house. Suppose I have a friend who has no education, house, family, friends or career. Who is handicapped?

How about the woman who married me. She took a chance and married a handicapped man. Worked ok for her.

I think if you are a Catholic that can only see the Catechism and Canon Law as the Church an cannot see the Holy Spirit and the authority of the Bishops and priests in your spiritual journey you are handicapped. You are blind.

If you do not hear the voice of God in those who love and care about you, you are handicapped. You are deaf.

If your heart rejoices because God tolerates your sinfulness and forgives you but you do not do the same to others then you are handicapped. You have no brain.

Don’t you think God helped me accomplish all the things in my life after I became handicapped?

If you choose to help a handicapped person, or even marry one, don’t you realize you may receive grace from God?

God knows, this is why I wrote this letter.

 

[hellopeople]

The church accepts Darwin’s Theory Of Evolution. There is nothing in biological science revealing a place for original sin in explaining how people got handicapped. Scientists talk about mutations.

I find your answer unsatisfactory. I think we need a modern explanation from the church that fits in with what we know about genetics. I need to be believe in a God that somehow is off the hook when it comes to handicapped people.

Yes I HATE that answer. In my opinion the idea of original sin is archaic and really just represents our propensity to sin. Adam and Eve didn’t even exist, and the most Catholics believe that, so where did original sin come from then? Original sin was just a theory derived from the writings of Paul.

Also, does it sound like a kind compassionate God that would give people serious physical or mental handicaps because the first man that was ever created sinned…that sounds like the God of the OT holding grudges and just being petty.

 

[hellopeople]

God is omnipotent. He knows everything that has happened and ever will happen. That is not the same thing as causing a disease/defect in a specific person.

Well since he has the power to change these things, I think it is pretty much the same thing as causing it.

 

[kage_ar]

Yes I HATE that answer. In my opinion the idea of original sin is archaic and really just represents our propensity to sin. Adam and Eve didn’t even exist, and the most Catholics believe that, so where did original sin come from then? Original sin was just a theory derived from the writings of Paul.

Also, does it sound like a kind compassionate God that would give people serious physical or mental handicaps because the first man that was ever created sinned…that sounds like the God of the OT holding grudges and just being petty.

If someone does not believe that we had two original human parents - by any name, Suzie and John or Adam and Eve - they have separated themselves from the Faith. We are required to believe this.

God permitted me to have a serious deformity.

Please, read up on the redemptive value of suffering.

 

[Hooding_Trees]

If someone does not believe that we had two original human parents - by any name, Suzie and John or Adam and Eve - they have separated themselves from the Faith. We are required to believe this.

Not at all, most christians are not fundamentalists.

 

[1ke]

Not at all, most christians are not fundamentalists.

When kage stated “we are required to believe this” the “we” she was referring to are Catholics.

This is an article of faith as is creation ex nihilo of all that is and special creation of each soul.

Catholics are not fundamentalists.

 

[kage_ar]

Not at all, most christians are not fundamentalists.

catholic.com/library/Adam_Eve_and_Evolution.asp

Adam and Eve: Real People

It is equally impermissible to dismiss the story of Adam and Eve and the fall (Gen. 2–3) as a fiction. A question often raised in this context is whether the human race descended from an original pair of two human beings (a teaching known as monogenism) or a pool of early human couples (a teaching known as polygenism).

In this regard, Pope Pius XII stated: “When, however, there is question of another conjectural opinion, namely polygenism, the children of the Church by no means enjoy such liberty. For the faithful cannot embrace that opinion which maintains either that after Adam there existed on this earth true men who did not take their origin through natural generation from him as from the first parents of all, or that Adam represents a certain number of first parents. Now, it is in no way apparent how such an opinion can be reconciled that which the sources of revealed truth and the documents of the teaching authority of the Church proposed with regard to original sin which proceeds from a sin actually committed by an individual Adam in which through generation is passed onto all and is in everyone as his own” (Humani Generis 37).

The story of the creation and fall of man is a true one, even if not written entirely according to modern literary techniques. The *Catechism *states, “The account of the fall in Genesis 3 uses figurative language, but affirms a primeval event, a deed that took place at the beginning of the history of man. Revelation gives us the certainty of faith that the whole of human history is marked by the original fault freely committed by our first parents” (CCC 390).

 

[Zatzat]

God does not actively will any disorder or suffering in any of his creatures, but the laws of nature he created will continue to operate, and will work to compensate for any disorder or disruption they encounter often in ways that injure the organism.

Why doesn’t God will Cystic Fibrosis, cleft palates or Melanoma out of existence?

On another note, if these diseases / conditions didn’t exist before the fall, where did they come from?

As Eve held the apple in her hand, cystic fibrosis didn’t exist. Once Eve bit into the apple, did cystic fibrosis and every other disease and physical disability suddenly spring into existence?

If they did suddenly materialize into existence out of thin air, where did they come from?

Every circumstance of the life we are born into is a test.

A child having to watch his entire family hacked to death and then recruited into an army where he’ll live the rest of his brief life as a child soldier…not sure why an all powerful and all knowing God needs to test that little boy with such horrific brutality.

 

[Call_Me_V]

A child having to watch his entire family hacked to death and then recruited into an army where he’ll live the rest of his brief life as a child soldier…not sure why an all powerful and all knowing God needs to test that little boy with such horrific brutality.

It’s all part of God’s plan. Don’t question God’s plan

In any case, I still think that the verse of Exodus that I quoted earlier indicates that God is taking credit for who receives handicaps and who doesn’t… I’m open to being wrong, of course, that’s just what it seems like to me, and if so, I think that that answers the OP’s question quite nicely.

V

 

[Zatzat]

It’s all part of God’s plan. Don’t question God’s plan

In any case, I still think that the verse of Exodus that I quoted earlier indicates that God is taking credit for who receives handicaps and who doesn’t… I’m open to being wrong, of course, that’s just what it seems like to me, and if so, I think that that answers the OP’s question quite nicely.

V

Of course, there’s always Isaiah 45:7;

I form the light, and create the darkness, I make well-being and create woe; I, the LORD, do all these things.

Isaiah 45:7 certainly seems to indicate that God deliberately creates woe.

 

[Holly3278]

I believe that people being born with handicaps are the result of a fallen world. However, I also believe that God uses these handicaps to bring people closer to Him. I know that is the case with me. I have several mental handicaps and God frequently uses these handicaps of mine to draw me closer to His bosom.