re: Conservatism doesn’t always equal Christianity

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One wonders how ANYONE could in good faith place themselves in the Gnostic category on either theism or atheism.

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Granted the following wouldn't apply to all gods, but with respect to the Christian God, depending on how he's defined, I could see someone claiming to know for sure that he doesn't exist.

One of God's many characteristics is being perfectly just. This turns out to be quite important as if he's judging human souls to be clean or contaminated with sin he needs to be perfect.

Mercy is the suspension of justice. Even if it's the suspension of a gram of justice (say breaking law A = 1,000 days in jail, and you as a judge give the law breaker 999 days in jail. You've shown mercy, however small).

How can a being both be perfectly just, and also be merciful?

I could claim with just as much certainty that that particular god doesn't exist as I can that a circular square doesn't exist. Or a married bachelor.