Greg Boyd: Apologies & Explanations Does God Design Each Child, or Does God Let Nature Design Us?
Nov 5, 2025
The discussion dives into the complexities of genetics and divine design, exploring the tension between the beauty of creation and the existence of suffering. Greg contrasts Psalm 139's message of intimacy with the reality of painful birth deformities, suggesting that nature, while fundamentally good, has been corrupted. He highlights Jesus' healings as a testament to God's opposition to affliction and examines the ambiguity of what constitutes 'normal' human variation. Ultimately, he asserts that severe conditions hint at a deviation from God's intended design.
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Core Question: Divine Design Or Natural Process
- The episode frames a central question: does God design each child's DNA or let nature work on its own?
- This sets up tension between scriptures like Psalm 139 and observable suffering in births.
Creation Is Both Good And Corrupted
- Greg Boyd argues creation shows both good design and severe corruption by hostile powers.
- He suggests many deformities and diseases reflect fallen laws of nature rather than God's purposeful design.
Contrasting Psalm 139 With Horrific Births
- Greg Boyd contrasts Psalm 139's 'fearfully and wonderfully made' with horrific birth defects and suffering.
- He describes seeing babies with brains outside skulls and lives of mere hours to highlight the tension.
