How does religion explain birth defects?

[Captain Scarlet]

Science can explain why people are born with birth defects. How does religion? Surely, a god (which ever religion) who created the whole universe and made it possible for life to exist wouldnt have a problem in making it possible for all people (and animals) to be born without any life destroying and complicating illness' or defects.

Are these children born with issues that will effect them their whole lives and in some cases completely ruin them as a punishment? for humanities or their parents sins? Or is god simply deciding to stand by and watch without using his super duper, universe creating and limitless mega powers to help?

So, How does religion explain this?

DP pretty much said it. The thesitic reasoning goes something like this:

1- An all good god and innocent sufferring are compatible, if it is only possible to bring about maximal good by allowing innocent suffering (ie a higher purpose or greater good).
2 - Since this proposition can't be shown to be false, it could be possible that an all good god and innocent suffering are compatible
3- Therefore this argument against god fails.

It is a matter of debate as to whether this is a sound defence or not. Most atheists like me think it is flawed. Most theists think it sound. It is very similar to the free will defence against the argument from evil.