Why Does Evil Exist?

“What is the purpose of evil” and “Why does it exist?” are two of the most widely asked questions by everyone through the ages. One of the most noted reasons is that human evil relies on the idea that the possibility of evil is a natural occurrence of human freedom and autonomy. It is often said that one can’t freely choose what is good, without the option to choose otherwise. In short words, humans are the cause of evil and can choose rather to be good or bad. Evil is the absence of good — as a Christian I believe that God didn’t create evil, but rather he allows an absence of good to give us rational free will.

Evil is defined as profoundly immoral and wicked. The term is often used for people who are greedy, malicious, deceitful, manipulative, and the list goes on and on. While evil exists not everyone innately possesses evil. People choose to act or behave in a way that is evil — which shows a lot about their character and them as a person. Evil is also necessary to exercise free will because if good and evil did not both exist then there would be no choosing between the two.

Although evil does exist it does not mean that everyone is evil or a bad person, people can choose their way. Someone who was previously evil also has the right to choose to be good — second chances are important. This world will never be perfect, and neither will we, but our small choices can have large consequences. Therefore, it is important to choose good and make wise decisions. Even small acts like helping your mom with dishes, or spending time with a family member can make someone’s day and prove to them that good still exists. All in all, good will always overpower evil but is important for both to coexist.