How does religion explain birth defects?

[Lethe]

Lethe I agree with some of what you say, I do not agree with your reference that God is a tyrant, I see Him as a loving God who will help us to deal with whatever life deals us.

I actually wasn't trying to parallel evolution with God in that instance. I was trying to convey that the mechanism of evolution (natural selection) isn't a conscious process -- if environmental conditions permit (abundant food, medicine, fiscal support, et cetera), even genes considered to be defective will have the ability to pass on to future generations, as these defective genes don't put the human or humans at as great a disadvantage as they would under harsher conditions. So I wouldn't consider it corrupting the gene pool, as greater diversity leads to greater resilience (on the species level) to different threats.

I do not believe that evolution had a thing to do with compassion, that is a trait we receive from God. As for the wolves,elephants and other animals if times get hard they will sacrifice their young for the well being of the group. That is not what humans do we can see that evidence in all the starving people in the world and this is just one reason I believe in God.

I would have to say I disagree on humans being unable to sacrifice members of their own species, young or old, for a 'greater good'. Soldiers being the first brand of sacrifice that comes to mind. And there were those that sacrificed humans (sometimes their own children) to deities in the hopes a sacrifice of such magnitude would placate these gods. Cannibalism among the otherwise starving has been observed on numerous occasions. As well as using other humans as 'decoys' to escape being targeted oneself. From what I've observed, humans can and do resort to desperate measures during desperate times. Then again, I don't claim to be unbiased. Ultimately I view humans as animals, undoubtedly dissimilar to your views. That isn't to say I attribute us any less value than I would did I not. I must say I adore this hunk o' rock, warts and all.