by Jesse Galef –
Every now and then it’s worth refreshing our memory about how absurd it is to call the God in the Judeo-Christian bible compassionate. Daniel Florien at Unreasonable Faith just released part five of his series called “An Evil God?” focusing on the story of Noah. Remember that this is the unchanging, ever-loving God many people claim to worship. After referring to this little episode as “the Tantrum of All Tantrums,” Dan describes the situation:
So everyone everywhere is evil. What will this regretful, all-powerful, all-knowing, yet loving god do about it? Perhaps teach them morality through a mandatory Sunday School class? Teach them the Golden Rule? Explain to them the concept of rule of law and justice? Give them a holy book with rules he expects them to live by? Turn the other cheek and repay evil with good?
Nah. He’s Yahweh! He’ll just kill everyone and start a clean slate. Or as he says in Bible, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
That’s a poetic way of saying, “Fuck it. I’m gonna drown all these evil bastards… and their children!”
I look forward to more of this series is soon – they’re well-written and really show the dark parts of the supposedly holy book.
You know, with all the things Yahweh does, you would think he would develop a reputation. I can totally see this role in a play… Yahweh is a power-hungry but insecure mafia boss who demands utter loyalty. He toys with his underbosses (go kill your son – haha, just kidding!). He personally commits acts of terrorism by assassinating the first-borns of a rival gang to make a political statement (and pulls some creepy blood-for-water stunt). He orders the total slaughter of another mob and their families (go back and kill the women and children!)
And of course, when Yahweh decides he doesn’t like most of his family, he kills them all save one. This would be a very dramatic scene, probably near the beginning of the play to help establish the character’s darker nature.
Heck, I’d pay to watch this dramatic thriller performed! I love stories with anti-heroes, and God is a perfect role – strong but flawed. I’m sure I’ve left out some important plot devices and character development – anything that you deem necessary for the Play of God?