The question "Why did God create viruses, bacteria, pathogens, venomous creatures and poisonous chemicals is usually asked by irreligious skeptics to challenge God's authority, design, and goodness. It is also asked by those of faith, either out of innocent ignorance or curiosity. Life per se is a balance of life-forms co-existing because they were created by God by means of obvious intelligent design. The authors show the vast majority of bacteria, viruses, and insects are beneficial. The reason some pathogens are harmful is discussed in some detail. Furthermore, the role of toxic chemicals, which are beneficial and even essential to human and animal life at low to moderate concentrations is also covered. The authors' conclusions are well-documented by several hundred peer-reviewed scholarly articles and books. if you have ever wondered about why in God's creation there are "parasites and pathogens," "ticks and toxins," "maladies and mosquitoes," then you owe it to yourself to consider the scholarly explanations that set the record straight-the professional perspective of Bergman and Hoff. If you are looking for sound scientific answers to the question "Why did God create life-forms that have harmful side-effects to other organisms?," this is the book to read.