Doesn't it appear one's interpretation of their god depends on the person, like YHWH is a pretty strict god like the old jews. Yet many consider him merciful because their morales are different.

I dont think you can change what God is so that it can comply with the life you are living.

However I understand that if you obey God, or your gods, then they arent strict, because you understand what it is He/they ask of you. From anothers point of view, God/gods may be strict simply because they are not obeying Him/them. It is really how you've been brought up and the ideas that you carry.

God Bless.

Nailed it.

But then, that begs the question: In order to know that you changed God, you would have to know what God is originally. How can you know what God is?

It would seem the only way is through interpretation.

my favorite example is when abraham talks god into not destroying sodom until his nephew and family escape.i don't claim it really happened, but the gist of the story would be that you can pray and get god to cnhange things, even if it means postponing something, instead of cancelling.

Abraham?

But yes, exactly. The question isn't simply "Do your morals match up with God's requirements, thereby making Him strict or merciful, but rather, Is God strict or merciful (or something else) to begin with.

Well that would launch an entire debate concerning who God is exactly, and which faith is the right one. I'd rather skip that debate, as I know it will last for EVER.
I believe God is merciful but not to the extent that you can say, Hey God, I want some money, can you put some in my mailbox?
I believe, if the story is true, He answered Abraham's prayer because Abraham was good and obeyed God, and thus in return, God is merciful to the believer.

Just some ideas.
Peace be with you.

I'm of the mind of Woody Allen: "If only God would give some small sign of His existance, like a large deposit in my bank account..."

ha ha ha ha, I love it!!!! namaste Sheri

Merry CHRISTmas Everyone!

I see what you mean. But hypothetically, what would you do if your next bank statement showed that you were paid x amount of money more than you should have been. You speak to the bank about this (or do you?), and they say they can't see anything wrong, so therefore the money is yours.

What do you do? Attribute it to God? Or human error. I hope you see where I'm going with this....

Regards, PA