A Needy God
The paradox of an all-powerful deity needing our praise
O ye men! It is ye that have need of Allah: but Allah is the One Free of all wants, worthy of all praise.
If ye reject (Allah), Truly Allah hath no need of you; but He liketh not ingratitude from His servants: if ye are grateful, He is pleased with you. No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. In the end, to your Lord is your Return, when He will tell you the truth of all that ye did (in this life). For He knoweth well all that is in (men's) hearts.
Quran 39:7
He…
- Wants us to bow to him 5x a day
- Repeatedly praise him
- Chant “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the greatest)
- Sacrifice animals
But he is free of all wants and needs… except, he gets angry when you don't believe in him
Those who reject (Truth), among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, will be in Hell-Fire, to dwell therein (for aye). They are the worst of creatures.
This is supposed to be merciful?
God doesn't really care if you're a good person
A Muslim will eventually end up in heaven — if they were a murderer or rapist, it doesn't matter — if you believed in Allah, that's all that would matter.
But if you didn't believe in him, that is even worse than being anything else…
But those who reject Faith and belie Our Signs, they shall be companions of the Fire; they shall abide therein.
Seems like this God doesn't give a crap, as long as you worship him in exactly the way he wants.