Why Would God Create Parasites?
Question of the week: Why would God create parasites such as ticks and mosquitoes that cause harm to people?
My answer: Ticks and mosquitoes serve a good purpose. I provide a detailed answer as to why parasites fulfill good purposes in the context of the laws of physics in my book, More Than a Theory. God designed parasites to play crucial roles in certain ecosystems. In the Canadian north, for example, mosquitoes recycle lemming feces and provide a critical food source for freshwater fish. It is we humans, not God, that spread mosquitoes from occupying just 10% of the continents to now beyond 95%. Also, of the more than 200 different species of mosquitoes, only 6 bite human beings.
In the new creation (Revelation 21–22) there will be no parasites. They will not be necessary nor will the laws of physics be governing the universe. Evil will no longer be possible. As I explain in Why the Universe Is the Way It Is, the laws of gravity, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism are optimal tools in God’s hands to rapidly and efficiently eradicate evil. It is because of these laws of physics that parasites are essential to prevent the animals in Earth’s ecosystems from experiencing more death and suffering. Anyone can get free chapters of More Than a Theory and Why the Universe Is the Way It Is at reasons.org/ross.