We try to be happy and not think about `Evil', except in the eyes of a serial killer or on `The X-Files'. But why does evil exist (especially if `God is love')?
Here's a few theories:

1. There is no God, and evil is part of the universe.

Howard Bloom says, `Nature does not abhor evil; she embraces it. She uses it to build'. So `evil is woven into our most basic biological fabric' and `we are casualties of Nature's callous indifference to life, pawns who suffer and die to live out her schemes.' Why? `In a world evolving into ever-higher forms, hatred, violence, aggression and war are a part of the evolutionary plan.' (The Lucifer Principle, pp.2-3)

Gloomy! And if evil is natural, why shouldn't I be evil? Sounds like Hitler's excuse: killing `lesser people' was actually kind because it made room for the best humans to evolve into Superman.

2. There is a God but He is uncaring and/or weak.

But if He's weak, how did He make the universe? If He's uncaring, why did He bother?

Maybe a loving, powerful, creative God won't abuse His power by forcing people to do His will, but waits until people see the consequences of bad choices and choose to let Him run the universe (see the TOYMAKER story inserted in this guide).

3. There is a God but there is also a devil.

Nature has a mix of good and evil (thorns have roses; dolphins live near sharks; a leopard kills for fun but is gentle with its cubs). And we humans have a mixture in us - we can give to charity and an hour later yell at someone we love.

Looking at the natural world (and yourself) is a bit like finding a computer with a virus. You see the careful, intelligent design but you can see it has a bug.

This is what the Bible teaches.

But this raises more questions! Like.....