Evil In The World We Live
There are many aspects of “evil” that have long existed since the beginnings of this world. In today’s world, evil plays a large part in how the world functions. People constantly need a sense of protection to feel comfortable and secure. Unfortunately for us, the world is not one that can smoothly run on an honor system of good moral. Without enforcement, evil would prosper on an even larger scale. But who is to say that all evil is entirely bad? Our world today very competently feeds on evil. If it wasn’t for this, there would be no need for a police department, locks on the doors of your house, or for that matter, a secretary general who is otherwise known as the president of the United States. Do you really think these people want evil to cease in its entirety? Well they might say they do, but it’s very possible that this is said because they know it would never actually happen. However, if this really happened to the point where even petty crimes no longer occurred, a lot of people would inevitably be forced to point their life in a different direction. If there is anything that fascinates me about evil it is indeed this. Of course, something of this sort is impossible, but the point is, evil is a necessary function in the world we live. Not only does it employ millions or perhaps even billions in the fight against it, but it also creates such things as heroes that people may look up to as well as the all powerful life lessons that we all learn as we grow up whether through the news or real life experience. So if you want to ask an all powerful and all loving God why there is evil, this just might be his reason why.
Jgreen73's Weblog 
Justin, you bring up a good point about evil being helpful for people whose jobs are to prevent it and to protect people from it, but I don’t think you can look at evil as a positive thing. If there was less evil in the world today, these people would still have jobs. We would still have the NYPD, the president and locks on our doors. You did think about the only positive that evil brings but I think the negatives of evil (such as killing, stealing, raping) certainly outweigh the positive aspects you mentioned.
I’m not entirely convinced that God couldn’t, in his power, find a better way to teach us the lessons that we need to learn. But the point you make about heroes is a good one. It’s possible that heroism couldn’t exist without evil. But this is a good reason for God to allow evil only if heroism is really really great–namely, great enough to make up for all the pain that evil causes. Is it? Why?
I think you should look at your argument not from a perspective from the present time but one where the world was created without evil. If there was no evil locks would never have been invented and a police force would have never been established. Personally I think even if there was no evil there would still be heroes like firefighters or people doing more good deeds than the next one.
Since he gave people the right to have free will, he would want them to exrsise their right to free will. If he prevented evil, people would not be making choices for themselves. All though he would want to prevent evil; he also wants people to have free will.