In one of the most difficult plays I have ever seen, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, the father of a paraplegic, catatonic child asserts that "God is a manic-depressive rugby player." If someone really believes in the Daddy God, then submission is exactly what this God requires. And as George Carlin points out about that bizarre, dominant white male concept:

"Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told. Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there’s an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever ’til the end of time! But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He’s all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can’t handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, talk about a good bullshit story. Holy Shit!"

So as it turns out, the dominant white male Daddy God is a corporate myth to keep women submissive and protect abusers. And it's not "God" who's pulling the strings. It's a corporate Church designed to keep wealthy white males in power, rich, and privy to a rich crop of children to abuse.

See The Handmaids Tale for further reference.

Rant ends...

I don't believe bad things happen as a test from God to keep us in line. I think that bad things just happen, and it is up to us to show ourselves and each other kindness and compassion in order to get through them.

I know how you feel but the truth is shit happens to come out of the texts of shit people.If that is your only problem be happy that you know truth about the bible and koran....it is all bullshit.Just words. Shit happens at random and tommorrow is highly likely to be better or you brain will come up with a ideas turn thing around.

You'll have to excuse my language here ... I've always had this feeling when I thought there was such a thing as an almighty when ever things were becoming overwhelming for me when I was knocked down so hard that I thought I would never get up ... I imagined myself on my knees in front of the god that put me there struggled to get up off my knees turned to this invisible entity threw up the magic finger and gave a great big fuck you YOU won't keep me down. Now a days even though I don't believe in god when things get me feeling down I get really angry with myself and give myself the magic finger and say Fuck you ... Kick mysrlf in the pants and get on with what I need to do to get through it ... some times not so successfully. But I'm not a quitter and I won't be beaten into submission by anyone or anything. Oh yeah and fuck those people that say that shit to you YOU'RE way better than they are kiddo ... way better!

It is very similar to an abusive relationship or a battered wife. No matter what happens, god is excused until the next abuse happens, which always comes.

Yeah their god is a bloodthirsty asshole.

Watching my second wife die very slowly and painfully while her prayer-warrior relatives offered ineffectual oblations for her health, had a lot to do with me getting that clear in my thinking.

It has been helpful to me to not associate with people who bloviate about god's tests and chastisement and blessings-in-disguise, and to let go of the though-habit of feeling hurt and resentful for something that was never on tap to begin with: the mercy of god. There's no god, there's no mercy, there's just stuff happening in a universe that's indifferent to your needs and hopes and dreams and aspirations. Once you really get clear on that, you can embrace life's absurdity and quit agonizing about it -- and most of all, you can stop taking it personally.

Sh*t happens, we find shoulders if we need them. Ain't no deity.

Even when I was a kid - the logic of "being tested" just didn't hold water for me.

It would be a sadistic deity wouldn't it?

We all have low moments when things go wrong or we can’t see our way out of a bad situation. The fact that we get through them without the need to ask a fictional greater being to intervene just makes us stronger. When believers get through bad times they say.....” I prayed and god answered” and that makes them weak and needy! That they actually think that god sent the bad times to test them in the first place just defies logic.

Ha! God gives them the diseases and science and doctor help them live! Never heard a religious person follow that line of thought! I have also suggested to people who go on about how intensive medical treatment that is successful is a miracle from god; where the hell was their god 20, 30 or 50 years ago when even what is now routine medical care was primitive and usually deadly.
Your first take on their god being an abusive lover is right on! Beat you down so you worship him in the hopes the next beating won’t be so bad if it comes despite your best effort. Reminds me of a family member going through a series of issues with her family saying “why me?” I told her why not? Everyone goes through bad times, rough days, times when life just seems to be working against us. We non believers just have to get up in the morning a muddle on, knowing that like those who pray to the imaginary friend, life will have ups to go with the downs if we seek them out!

Lets face it, If there was a god he sure is an egotistical asshole

Sorry about your "crappy, emotional day"

I (kind of) agree with your analysis of the abusive husband god scenario except I find no credible evidence to support the positive "there is a god" assertion as there is not testable evidence to support a god exists.

But your analysis of the theists created (invented?) god image as an abusive, misogynistic self-serving male asshat is accurate and reasonable.

This definition of god is also rather poignant.

Reminds me of an observation a friend noted yesterday. We were talking about Trump (Caligula) supporters and how they had a disconnect with reality. . . . most believed in god/prayer. . . and the futility of prayer. He noted a FACE-PALM obvious example of how ridiculously futile prayer to a god is . . . he noted (in addition to several other religious sets, what about the roughly six million Jews that prayed to their god but were still killed by the Nazis? Why were the prayers of those killed not answered?

I also agree "organized religion is the root of (in my observation most) all evil and suffering . . . " I have even debated a priest who entered the discussion believing he was paying mankind a positive service but after an hour of talking with me, was nearly in tears and admitted his peddling faith (belief without evidence supported as truth) was dishonest and not in the best interest of civilization.

Hope you find your Tribe here - you seam to be a most intelligent person and there are some (not all) who share your (what I consider to be a superior) perspective.

Hope tomorrow is a better day for you.

That really sounds like a bad start to the week..

I'm sending good vibes to you now !!!

He must get all warm & gooey over little kids with horrible cancers!