God's wrath: Shouldn't he grow up and get over himself?

Question

I'm always reading here about God pouring His wrath out on unbelievers. Why is God so childish, vain and petulant? If he is perfect and all sufficient in and of himself, then how can anything we do or don't do harm or diminish him in any way? When humans get this attitude we call them megalomaniacs, tyrants or two year olds. Shouldn't a god be at least mature and rational and not ready to torture for eternity anyone who doesn't flatter him? This God is just a bully, not someone to worship and certainly not to adore. I think believers take on the role of abused children who tell daddy how great he is so daddy won't have another tantrum and kill all the firstborn.

Clarification for Barb K: I deny the Holy Ghost! ;-)

His wrath arise from his holiness? That's like saying my rage arises from my brain tumor. It's not an explanation. It's saying "God is so perfect that he hates anything that's not, but he created us imperfect, otherwise we would have discerned the sanke was evil and deciving us, so created us to hate us, but is willing to let us exist if we suck up for all eternity." Yeah that's brilliant. My cat has a better disposition. He thinks he's pretty, but he doesn't go around attacking people who don't pay attention to him.

I knew this one would bring out the insults. The more you kick at the gross irrationalism of this religion the more desperate and mindless the hostility you provoke, in love of course..

Why does God need worship and praise and flattery is he is all sufficient people? cna you stop with the faithbot responses for five minutes and consider how ridiculous this sounds?

Honeysweet M - Eternal torment is no more for correction than the gas chamber. Killing convincts doesn't rehabilitate and cooking infidels fo all eternity in a lake of fire doesn't correct naughty children. It's not punishment. It's simply venting anger and enjoying suffering.

Fr. J - Eternal burning in a lake of fire (Revelation) is the wrath I am talking about. However, sin clearly does not inevitably connect to temporal consequence in this life. We can see that for ourselves and scripture does not teach that. See Eccelsiastes, Job and Jesus on the man born blind. Evil occurs to the good and good to the evil, exactly as it would if there were no God.

I am dealing with the notion of damnation here, eternal consequences of temporal actions, not temporal consequences for temporal sins. That said, I appreciate your attitude and the spirit in which you responded. "A gentle word turneth away wrath" eh?

Answer 1

Remember, one of the main reasons God, Heaven and Hell were created as concepts were to frighten the masses into behaving back when there were no functional courts or police forces. LOTS of God's supposed behavior makes no sense when looked at closely and critically, but it works to keep the credulous, simple and fearful in line.

Answer 2

First of all which God are you referring to? I think that some gods would not approve of being accused of being wrathful and punishing those that have not performed to his ideals. One needs to understand that there is much symbology in ALL religions, including Christianity. There is more to the Good Book than meets the eye. Many scholars believe that Constantine removed all references to reincarnation. This could possibly be what real Hell is. You create it in one life then you come back to rectify those mistakes. If that is true one might assume that if you really messed up before your next life might not be to pleasant (hell).
Thou shall not judge. I think that is the biggest mistake a lot of Christians make. If I do not believe in the same way as this select group, they will judge me - oops not supposed to do that! Since Christianity is one of the newer religions and is in the minority compared to several others, one should maybe be careful of what one says. Who is really out there taking notes?

Answer 3

God is all seeing, and all knowing, and He discerns the hearts and the minds of His people. He has given us salvation through Jesus the Christ, free will (choice), and grace (His unmeritted favor). God has been angry with believers as well as non-believers. His wrath is not sent to diminish His perfection or sufficiency, it is to correct us when we have gone into the destructions of our own selves.
God always gives us the opportunity to escape His wrath, and is a strong and loving parent that has nothing but our best interest at heart. He knows what we need, and just like any good parent, He will also give us what we want, when we're obiedent to His will.

Answer 4

I think you have a misunderstanding about God's wrath. Even in the Old Testament God did not inflict His punishment on Israel or Judah. If you studied the scriptures and history together, then you would understand what God's wrath is really about. It is not God inventing and inflicting punishment on us. In fact, it is God allowing us to bear the consequences of our bad choices (either personally or as a nation) without His saving intervention. Even what is written in the Old Testament happened hundreds of years before it was ever put to papyrus. The understanding of the authors for the cause of clamity is not God crushing us under His thumb because we are unfaithful, but God allowing us to be crushed by our bad choices and not helping us. Why would He do this? Simply because we chose it and He respects our freewill to decided against Him! Does this sound like a petulant child? It sounds more like a wise Father who allows His children to experience things for themselves to truly learn what He was counciling or warning them about.
Note that the prophets were sent well before any disaster to warn the people and tried to teach them what to do to correct themselves and avoid danger. Yet, Israel and Judah did not listen and God allowed them to have what they wanted. For example, the people asked the prophet Jeremiah to pray to God to save them from the Babylonians. The historical situation and choice was whether to stay in Israel or go to Egypt for refuge and safety. The people promised to do what ever the Lord directed no matter how difficult. Jeremiah prayed and the Lord told him to tell the people to stay in Israel and trust the Lord will care for them. Yet, the people refused the Lord and went into Egypt. Babylon was focused on Egypt because they had a standing army and therefore had make it a priority to conquer them. The Babylonians did conquer Egypt and the Israelites were enslaved. This was not God's doing, but a consequence of Israel's bad choice and not listening to the Lord. He merely allowed them to have their choice.
True He is not diminished in any way by what we do or don't do, yet He is a loving God and deserves respect and adoration since He has done so much for us. In fact, to follow His laws and decrees does not oppress us, but fulfills us. They make us wise and secure amidst a fearful people. He promises to protect and provide if we follow His ways. But if we refuse we are left to ourselves until we desire Him again and repent.
St. Paul writes a lot about this in his letters, that God's punishment is to leave us to our sins and all their effects. He does not need to invent and inflict. We do this ourselves. If you do not believe that your choices and actions have consequences, then you would naturally blame God for any misfortune. May the Lord bless and keep you. May He let the light of His face shine upon you.
God's and your beast of burden
Fr. john

Answer 5

God "get over himself" because His wrath arises from His holiness, which is part of His essential nature.

Is it "childish" to hold back while evil men kill your own Son so that people can avoid this wrath?

Answer 6

Amen. And if he's so perfect, then how come he still gets jealous? I've always heard that jealousy is more about lack of self-esteem than the other person actually cheating on you. It's written somewhere that he's a jealous god....

So what does THAT say about him?

Answer 7

I agree with Barb K.

And FYI, when the Bible refers to God as jealous, it means He will not tolerate us worshipping other gods. This includes nature, for wiccans, Buddha, etc.

Answer 8

Has anyone told you of Gods love? He sent his Son Jesus to die for your sins, even the ones you are committing now.

God loved you so much that he allows you the freedom of choice as to if you will accept him or not. God would not have any suffer and be separated from him, you have to make that choice for yourself.

Please chose carefully, it will last an eternity, all you have to do is call on his name, and believe. He will forgive you and show you the truth.

Answer 9

WELL LET US HOPE THAT YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST BORN, YOU PROBALLY AREN'T OR YOU WOULD NOT HAVE MADE THAT STATEMENT. CAUSE SEEMS TO BE YOU ARE A LITTLE BOY WHO DOES NOT KNOW THAT ONE DAY YOU WILL PAY FOR THE THINGS YOU HAVE SAID.HE CREATED YOU AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND HE DESERVES ALL THE GLORY AND ALL THE PRAISE FOR WITHOUT HIM YOUR LITTLE IGNORANT ONE CELLED PEE BRAIN WOULD NOT BE HERE. YOU HAVE FREE WILL BELIEVE WHAT YOU WANT WELL I CAN TELL YOU THAT HELL IS NOT FOR JUST A LITTLE WHILE BUT FOREVER YOU NEED TO CHOOSE WHERE YOU WANT TO GO NOW BEFORE YOU DIE

Answer 10

You talk of the christian, jewish, muslim god. Yes he is alot like zeus he gets pissed easily and then either drowns you or blows up your citiities, but not to worry he will then send his son down to die horribly so you can be saved.