Originally Posted by
Bigslug
Rather than the perfect engineer, OT God would seem to be more like Thomas Edison randomly trying different filament materials in order to find something that makes a successful light bulb, or maybe a potter who can't get his blob of clay properly centered on the potter's wheel, Before the great Biblical calamities, there were the great mass extinction events. This is a lot of pressing of the "reset" button for a being that is supposed to be able to generate his desired reality via finger snaps. Then there's this premise that a third of God's angels - who presumably got answers straight from the source and had the scope to understand them - agreed that there was good enough reason to resign from the cabinet. That's enough of a break-off to form a legitimate political party with a real shot at winning elections
But as an outside observer to Western monotheism, I don't know that there's really much difference between OT "be good or I'll cover you in locusts" and NT "embrace Jesus or go to Hell". Both seem suspiciously like constructs by men intended to keep other men in line. Occam's Razor - who is more likely to lay down rules like that; the Uber-Being that can create entire galaxies with a thought, or the local strong man wanting an extra tool that keeps peasants obedient, farming, and paying the taxes that keep him fat, drunk, and well-wenched? Also, the OT is based on the premise that the Hebrews were God's chosen. Didn't he also make Egyptians? Nubians? Syrians? Persians? If so, The Book seems a mite clannish and human-generated as an excuse for reinforcing a claim. (interesting that with the entire planet and universe, we have to fight to this day over a speck called Jerusalem)
Either from inside or outside of the mythology, I can't see how one comes to the conclusion that the Great Entity is one of perfection, benevolence, or even competence.