The Quality of...

Things would be a lot simpler if God were not merciful.

Justice would be swift, vengeance would be complete. People would get exactly what they deserve; instant Karma for everyone. One could use someone's status in the world to determine their status with God. All misfortunes would be judgements, and all good fortune would be an indication of merit.

This is the God that many people seem to want. Especially the self-righteous. This is the God that they have created in their own image: swift to anger, slow to forgive.

If God were not merciful, things would be simpler. They would not be better.

For one thing, humanity would have been wiped out a long time ago.