^^Yes, that is how we think of it. That’s probably part of the reason so many Jewish people don’t believe. I like to think God would be a living and forgiving God, especially if He expects it of us. If we are His children, how can He let that happen to innocent people. I rarely talk about logic or proof when it comes to religion, because sometimes we don’t understand, and sometimes something is true, but we just haven’t proven it yet, but that a God who supposedly can control everything and everything and do miracles let’s such awful things happen, and “tests” us? I just hate that idea.
As parents we let our children make mistakes, but we don’t let two year olds lean out of a ten story window, and we don’t let them stand on train track as a train comes barreling at them. God, our supposed parent, does allow all sorts of things like that happen.
Plus, He does His lessons in “mysterious” ways. Why the mystery? As adults we are wiser, and it’s not a mystery. We teach and protect our kids. Kids know adults have more experience and more power and provide safety and love. Sometimes that doesn’t happen, because not all parents are good people. See how that works. The parents who don’t do those things aren’t good parents. So, if you continue with the analogy, a God who would punish the world for eating an apple, or who allows a few powerful men to distroy millions of people; it just isn’t sounding like a great parent to me. It’s just too awful.
If there is a God, a judging God, then I believe He is a good and forgiving God in the end, and would understand why I’m an atheist, and see that throughout my life I still acted as He would want. Loving, charitable, caring about and for those I am responsible to, and even to those who are strangers. I don’t curse God, or tell others they shouldn’t believe or worship God, I just don’t “get it” if He does exist. I hope God is a big enough entity, meaning not too ego filled, that he sees my point of view.