How can a god, that apparently loves everyone, allow this kind of thing to happen?

[Fidel_Castronaut]

That don't make no sense. So, what, they go straight to heaven, right? So what's the point in them being born at all? I mean, what would be the difference if they went straight to heaven and cut out of the middle man (being born)?

There's probably some christian physics involved, Fidel.

Or we can always fall back on the old "we can't understand god's plan" thing. Why Christians ever try to rationalize such things when they have this BS that allows them to squirm out of any argument is beyond me.

Well I've read some other posters say that it's to impact the people around the child

So, using that logic, this version of a god is effectively the ultimate sadistic utilitarian. It views children (severely handicapped children who probably exist in a lot of pain and suffering) as a means to an end to, what, test the people around them such as immediate and extended family? What the hell is the point in that? This god couldn't find some other way to 'test' them? Why does it test these unfortunate parents and not others? I've seen a lot of scummy people who abuse and reject perfectly healthy children. Where's their test? What about the non-Christians (in this case) who don't get severely handicapped children? They're not tested at all, right? So can't we forgive them for not caring about someone else's version of god who is supposed to be testing people?

I guess they were tested in some other way, right?

It actually makes me a little bit sick, really.