Thread:Shinigami of the North/@comment-142748-20141014184021/@comment-142748-20141016191955

Shinigami, Light never claimed he was trying to rid the world of Crime. That is false. Light, upon realizing that the Death Note can kill anyone he wants immediately wanted to become a GOD!

http://www.mangapanda.com/113-4017-47/death-note/chapter-1.html

"{I will be} The God of this new world!"

The manga flat out says and shows his motivation isn't well intentioned. He wants to become a god. That's it.