You devote your life to being righteous. You obey all the religious covenants and rules and demands. You give alms to the poor. You give hours to prayer and to flattering your god.
But your neighbors aren't so righteous. Some of them are downright wicked. This does not escape god's notice.
Sooner or later that god will exact retribution. There are numerous instances in the bible of god destroying whole neighborhoods, cities and nations because they were populated by the wicked. All residents snuffed out, right down to the insects.
And you? Eliminated. Burnt to death, hacked to death, diseased to death, devoured by plague to death. Your impeccable righteousness not regarded for a second.
Your flawless righteousness has the unfortunate attribute of being unnoticeable, at least so your presence acts to correct your neighbors. They're gonna be wicked no matter what you do. And god won't pay any attention to your perfection. He's not gonna shepherd you clear of his mayhem, he'll burn or drown you along with all the rest.
So, why bother being righteous? Or at least why bother trying to please a god? It's futile.
But your neighbors aren't so righteous. Some of them are downright wicked. This does not escape god's notice.
Sooner or later that god will exact retribution. There are numerous instances in the bible of god destroying whole neighborhoods, cities and nations because they were populated by the wicked. All residents snuffed out, right down to the insects.
And you? Eliminated. Burnt to death, hacked to death, diseased to death, devoured by plague to death. Your impeccable righteousness not regarded for a second.
Your flawless righteousness has the unfortunate attribute of being unnoticeable, at least so your presence acts to correct your neighbors. They're gonna be wicked no matter what you do. And god won't pay any attention to your perfection. He's not gonna shepherd you clear of his mayhem, he'll burn or drown you along with all the rest.
So, why bother being righteous? Or at least why bother trying to please a god? It's futile.