Sadly, Ohio Republican Party chairman Dave Johnson was probably expressing what many other conservative Christians were thinking when he posted a meme (since deleted) on Facebook, referring to California’s worst wildfire ever (“Volunteer search and rescue teams in California wildfire step up efforts”, November 19) as God’s wrath against a liberal populace: “God’s punishment to liberal California”, and “Hell on Earth brought to you by the liberals in California”.

I don’t believe that God is both angrily retributive as well as compassionately loving, as Judeo-Christianity generally perceives Him, perhaps the same way that an ideal human father might be seen to behave towards his wayward child. However, what if angrily predisposed monotheistic humankind insistently makes God out to be in its own image?

Satanic Temple sues Netflix and Warner over goat-headed deity’s portrayal in ‘Sabrina’ series

I sometimes contemplate whether our own individual instinctive need for retribution or “justice” – regardless of Christ and great spiritual leaders having emphasised unconditional forgiveness – may be intrinsically linked to the same unfortunate morally flawed aspect of humankind that enables the most horrible acts of violent cruelty.

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