God ain't a grand manipulator.

I sometimes wonder if god is the grand manipulator. In addition to being the creator. Sounds a little negative, doesn't it? Manipulators are generally not revered. Such as capitalist money manipulators. Out to gain personal profits. Often at the expense of others. I tend to speculate. All sorts of things. About god. To test what might be. If god really is a manipulator, that implies that he intervenes. He plays a role in outcomes. He might even punish his creatures. For displeasing him. For not following his rules/edicts. Might even send some of us off to hell. While those who please him go to heaven/nirvana/valhalla. Anyway, I suspect that god wants us to decide between right and wrong. For ourselves. Without him dictating. In other words, creating a world in which there is no prescribed god-given right or wrong. It's up to us decide. As free and independent beings. We create our own right and wrong. We set the rules. Not god. That keeps god out of our affairs. No manipulation. That seems to make the most sense. Yes, I've decided that god ain't a grand manipulator. --Jim Broede