Why do we have to wait for God to take revenge on people?

Jesus said if you really fallow him you will be persecuted and martyred .

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You are assuming that it's a kind of bank where you invest something and expect some kind of payoff eventually, and of course you are ticked off because it's not working.

But that's not what the faith is about. It is about loving your neighbor, expecting nothing in return. It's not about you. It's about doing good even if others take advantage of you. It's written very clearly in the scriptures:

mat 5.38-48: [Jesus said,] ‘You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”

But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.

Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.”

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same?

And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.'

Jesus calls our sufferings and trials blessings from God. It may not feel like it yet, but if you accept it and keep moving forward in your faith you will realize the good that has come from it.

John the Baptist said that Jesus baptized with water and fire. Jesus' fire is used to purify the water. Baptism is used to cleanse the soul, but if you get baptized in muddy water how can it cleanse?

These trials are the fire Jesus blesses us with to purify us.

1 Peter 2 is an example of why Christians suffer. But, I suspect that though you believe in God, you go about your life and live it as you see fit.

Sometimes he leads others to assist with that. Look you have to understand a few things. He does not control people and what they do and do not do and the majority of people are only out for themselves. Does this mean become the wolf? That is what you decide but it takes a stronger person to go through all the bs of other people and not become them. Why would you want to be like someone that you don't like? Be stronger than that man. Anyway, most people suck it's a fact, they only like you for what they can gain so you have to be more aware of the intentions of others. I give any person a chance to be decent but I don't expect anything from them, trust and respect is earned but chances are not the same. You have to be able to be a better judge of people too and take more time to know someone. Helping someone is another story, it is good to just help some random person just because you have a good heart nothing wrong with that. But if you see the same person lurk around you and try to expect these things after that, you know they are just a scam and you do not continue to help someone who is a user. You save that for someone who is in true need. Someone who is in true need most of the time is too humble to even ask. Anyone who mistreats you you have to cut them out of your life. Everyone makes mistakes though so again you have to try and judge the personality. You can forgive someone as many times as needed, and remember that you should give as much forgiveness as you would like to receive. BUT to forgive does not mean to allow the person to continue to have the opportunity to harm you the same way again, and you can forgive in your heart and not be close to that person anymore. You can be kind but in a way that they cannot harm or use you. To carry hate in your heart is not good for you and why let some person like that gain from your hurt? If you carry hate then they win so you have to find a way to let that go but don't play the fool again, so you can have some distance with that person, you can say hi how are you to that person but you can keep walking after that. Balance is what you need between people. You are not paying for the sins of your father you have to ask for what you need and trust it will come and not when and how you want or not always in ways you expect but just ask for guidance in your heart to follow the path. And don't be like most and only ask in bad times you have to remember everyday and give praise for the good as well. It is the same, we ask for help in bad times but forget to give thanks in good times. So we are just as bad as other people who use us and we have to remember that. Anyway what you decide to do and how you decide to change from all that happens to you is up to you and nobody else. You can't say, I am this way because of all you people. You can only say I am this way because this is what I decided to become. The easy way out is the path most take you can do that or you can be strong.

I am an atheist, after a lot of research. What would you have your god do? Smite me or set fire to me to burn forever in agony?

I am a mother and Grandma...living a good, moral life...why should I suffer for something you believe in but I don't?

Mo University Lecturer Atheist with degrees in Theology, Comparative Religious Studies and Philosophy of Religion.

I don't believe in God, at least the anthropomorphic God of the west. But even if I did, it would become dreadfully apparent that there is no relationship between how we live, and the outcomes of our lives. Mark Twain, a skeptic, wrote two short stores entitled "The Good Little Boy" and "The Bad Little Boy". In the former, bad things keep happening to the good little boy, and you can imagine what happens to the bad little boy, i.e. no fairness

Christians see that there is no fairness in this world, calling it fallen; to make up for God's seeming non-existence they explain that suffering isn't really suffering; that, we will be punished or rewarded in the next life. Of course, all you have to do to be punished in the next life is to not agree with them.

Remember, the concept of God has been around for many thousands of years, and the notion of the Christian God is just one that has come into prominence.

Just be a good person, answer to your conscience, and don't be swayed by belief systems that promise you much good or evil, depending on your acceptance of their doctrines

The Buddha said that one should never believe anything, whether based on a "sacred" book or other teachings, unless it is sensible to you. Christians say believe it on faith, even if it doesn't make sense. I like the Buddhist perspective better. More trust in the self's ability to work things out without any outer help. The Christian notion that we are basically depraved and must submit to God doesn't work for me, although I know it works for many of them

Why would a all loving deity take revenge?

You are not paying for your father's sins as you only reap what you sow. The way you ought to be looking at the problems you have is to ask God to help you learn from them, not get out of them. Probably you are going through the same ones over and over because you are not learning the lesson.