-Removed-Yeah. Don't they notice that the same being is doing the destroying AND the saving? Isn't that a little demented?
He creates billions of creatures, and gives them a moral sense, but his creation, according to him, is 100% flawed; unacceptable.
Yet it is the created beings who are to blame; not the designer.
But he remains disappointed. So he sets up hell and makes himself judge over it. He decides who goes there, and who gets pardoned.
And because he pardons some of them, he is called 'merciful'. Those who were not pardoned still get 100% of the blame, both for their earthly actions, and the ridiculously overblown punishment, of which, no matter how many eons of time they serve, they are only just beginning their sentence.
By now we are in full-blown bizarro-land. Bizarro-mercy ensures a sizeable bit of the population is condemned. Bizarro-justice gives them all the same 'one size fits all' punishment, regardless of the severity and frequency of their crimes. Bizarro-love gives up on the many lost souls after a mere 100 years of trying. (OK, 1000 for the people in the Bible who allegedly lived that long. Still, such a short amount of time for trying to save them.) Bizarro-compassion ensures that maximal suffering is inflicted on the damned.
It would all be so forgettable and laughable if there were not so many who took it so seriously.
-Removed-"I'm not in the habit of promoting stuff (other than my own opinions), but for anyone interested I found this book a blessing. I know the author, not well as he is a friend of my parents; but I have met the man and found him to be a fellow seeker and struggler. He also has a great strength. Copies of his unpretentious account of his life with Christ are free of charge. I recommend a read." http://www.godsdonkey.com Thread 157748 "God's Donkey" would know how this "gift" can be a free.