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ribozyme
Guest
Why would a benevolent God allow humans to have Down syndrome?
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TimOliv
Guest
Why would a benevolent God allow cancer? AIDS? The difference is that the latter two destroy the body.
Downs Syndrome, the only real negativity involved there is a social stigma attached to possessing that extra chromosome. People with Down Syndrome do not “suffer” from it. It isn’t a punishment.
People with Down Syndrome have full capacity to find happiness in life.
So I’d say it runs along with some of the questions I’ve had in the past…
“Why did God make me short?”
“Why did God make it so I’m better in English than in Math?”
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FCEGM
Guest
To allow other humans to grow in love, patience and understanding as they assist them in their lives. My Down syndrome daughter, with all her joy and amazing love for people, puts “normal” folks to shame.
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MonicaC
Guest
Well if abortionist have thier way it wont around anymore. I know that this is off topic. So I am sorry its just the first thing that came to my mind.
So back to the topic.
My mom use to always tell us that those with down syndrome are our own special angels here on earth. I guess God might have given us this syndrome because he wants us to be able to see him in even the most undesirable.
God Bless,
Monica
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TimOliv
Guest
The only reason we are considered normal while they are not is simply because there are more of us.
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FCEGM
Guest
You got it, Tim.
My parish has a wonderful Special Ed program that my daughter (who is 33) LOVES participating in and I know how much those who assist her in the program have grown spiritually by assisting her and the other handicapped participants.
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exoflare
Guest
It (among other things) is one of the repurcussions of man’s original choice to sin against God. If you are not guilty of sin, feel free to complain about it.
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TimOliv
Guest
Why view it as a punishment? To have the heart of a child is not a punishment, its a reward.
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mercygate
Guest
Wrong question. When you think of the literally millions of things that have to go right during the conception and development of the human person, the miracle is that it EVER goes right. My Down syndrome cousin (although she died at 33), lived a very good life, and although in her childhood was considered untrainable, ultimately held down a job, lived in a group home, had friends . . . in other words: she was fine. Not everybody has to be a brain surgeon.
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mlchance
Guest
I love easy questions. Answer: to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.
– Mark L. Chance.
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exoflare
Guest
Yeah, but that’s not the only dimension of what Down’s Syndrome does to a person.
Still, don’t get me wrong. I do agree that when suffering like that is beared with patience and love, it can be a great blessing.
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TimOliv
Guest
One dimension, in particular are you speaking of?
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Maranatha
Guest
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Nullasalus
Guest
My thoughts on it would be this.
I reject the idea that people born with Down’s Syndrome are being punished (or that anyone around them is being punished for that matter). However, all people, regardless of specific condition, are in need of help - both from each other, and from something higher than humanity. There is no perfection to be born to (Aside from Christ - I believe in the infinite rather than the perfect, personally), so it should not surprise us that people are born with afflictions. We ALL are, some greater than others, in a wide, wide variety of ways.
Once you recognize that there is no ‘perfect’ being that we could be born into, these states of development make sense. At the same time, recognizing what is good in the world - and that there is an infinity to aspire to, with God - allows us to look upon people with Down’s Syndrome and like conditions as compatriots. People who need us, and who along with us, need God.
Hope that wasn’t too rambling.
I reject the idea that people born with Down’s Syndrome are being punished (or that anyone around them is being punished for that matter). However, all people, regardless of specific condition, are in need of help - both from each other, and from something higher than humanity. There is no perfection to be born to (Aside from Christ - I believe in the infinite rather than the perfect, personally), so it should not surprise us that people are born with afflictions. We ALL are, some greater than others, in a wide, wide variety of ways.
Once you recognize that there is no ‘perfect’ being that we could be born into, these states of development make sense. At the same time, recognizing what is good in the world - and that there is an infinity to aspire to, with God - allows us to look upon people with Down’s Syndrome and like conditions as compatriots. People who need us, and who along with us, need God.
Hope that wasn’t too rambling.
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mommyof4
Guest
In my line of work, I have worked with people of all ages who have Down’s Syndrome. Most of them have a “child-like” faith in God that I can only hope to regain sometime in my life. I truely believe that many of these people are luckier that I am, in the fact that they can love and accept God with very little doubt, if any. I believe that it will be much easier for them to enter the kingdom of Heaven than for many of us, with all of our doubts, fears, worries, and rationalizations for our sins.
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Pani_Rose
Guest
I was looking for a book by Morris West, “The Clowns of God”. Mr. West must have closley associated with a Down Syndrome child, because he makes the most beautiful references to these children in this book. I didn’t find the book online…
But I did find this article, well worth reading…
The Apple Doll House: Lessons from the Handicapped
By Diane M. Komp
“No, it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything.”
theologytoday.ptsem.edu/jul1990/v47-2-criticscorner1.htm
But I did find this article, well worth reading…
The Apple Doll House: Lessons from the Handicapped
By Diane M. Komp
“No, it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything.”
(I Cor. 1:27,28 Jerusalem Bible).
theologytoday.ptsem.edu/jul1990/v47-2-criticscorner1.htm
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jemfinch
Guest
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Mr.Ex_Nihilo
Guest
I have a child with autism. And while I admit that he’s a gift from God, I have to also admit he can be very trying too. 
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Ghosty
Guest
Indeed! They are Graced themselves in how they are able to Love God, and they are a means for Grace to us because we are able to care for them as Christ commands us to care for all our brothers and sisters.
They are human gifts, and those of us who are not so “disabled” can only aspire to such Love, and through caring for them we can come close.
Peace and God bless!
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exoflare
Guest
I agree with you. But I think the OP is specifically referring to the “worldy” suffering aspect. And of course, all worldly suffering is a consequence of original sin. Again, don’t get me wrong… I completely agree that suffering of any sort can be used for spiritual good.
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