God-Lite

'Although people in the Middle Ages saw God as demanding more than we could humanly accomplish, people in the twenty-first century have constructed a picture of God that has moved in a different direction. Today postmodernity seeks to make God "nice", affirming, supporting and uplifting the individual. They see God less as king or lord and more as friend or therapist. This requires that God be less demanding, more tolerant, and especially nonjudgmental about the wayward behaviour of his human creatures. Today it is often more offensive to affirm God's wrath than to affirm his love. It is not uncommon to hear about any intimation of God's wrath in the statement "God would never do that," or "I would never believe in a God that would do that." This "God-Lite" grows out of a society that affirms a therapeutic individualism and an egalitarian inclusiveness. In such a culture, God is seen as one who is willing to overlook my shortcomings because my good intentions are present.'

Kolb and Arand, 'The Genius of Luther's Theology' pp.84-85