Why did God create parasites???

[inquisitor888]

I have a question about this thread's title. It's phrased as "Why did God create parasites?" instead of "Why does God allow parasites to exist?"; since it is worded that way, I take the title to mean that God "wanted" parasites to exist, that he actively decided they would. Is this what you meant, or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Yes...why would God in his omniscience create a phenomena that did not have purpose. Evaluating it from this prespective, 'why did God create parasites' and 'why does God allow parasites to exist' are actually the same question. However, if you distinguish between the two...God's omnipotence is seriously called into question. Please...understand that I am talking about a specific phenomena within life (on the level of species)...not a philosophical concept (like vampirism).

More broadly, would it be against a benevolent God's nature to allow things like parasites to exist if those things served a purpose?

It depends upon the moral code which you use to explain the phenomena. That is if the moral code of God can actually be understood in human terms.