Exactly, Don. What we call "evil" is often just the process of life itself. Other than that, what we call "evil" is the unwise use of human free will...and we see a great deal of that. It isn't God who ordains evil...it's human interpretation of results that are damaging to certain parties that labels such results (and the actions that led to those results) as "evil". That's perfectly normal.

What we think is good or evil is one way in which we define who we ARE, and that's important in developing our sense of identity, so that's why we do it.

If nothing "evil" existed...then how would we know what "good" is? If cold didn't exist, how would we know what hot is? If up didn't exist, how would we know what down is?

That is why evil must necessarily play some part in the unfolding processes of Life. God does not wish or deliver evil upon anybody. People do. They define it, they label it, and they frequently practice it in small ways or large, according to their own or someone else's definition of it. They're practicing it right now in Iraq...on both sides.

To blame it on God is just downright silly. Be thankful that God has allowed us all a full measure of free will and free expression, and has allowed it to everyone else as well, instead of managing us all like puppets so that everything can be "Good"...in your estimation of what you think "good" is. That would be the end of both free will AND evolutionary progress.

- LH