Today's New York Times has an opinion piece asking (and answering) the question:
What's your answer? Take the poll at the end of the article. The question above is also a link to the article.
(Poll taken offline 28 Nov 2012 - See my last post.)
The article is written by a Jew named Yoram Hazony. He's president of the Institute for Advanced Studies at the Shalem Center in Jerusalem and his references are exclusively Old Testament. But the question still applies to Christians and, in fact, anyone who professes to believe in a supreme being. Hazony starts with a brief, but effective, summary of some of the problems that a "perfect" God presents. The basic problem is illustrated by that old chestnut, "Can God create a stone heavier than he can lift?" If he can't, then he's not perfect. If he can, then he's still not perfect.
I suspect that fundamentalists (Christians, Muslims ... maybe even Zoroastrians) will object to any suggestion that God isn't perfect. Hazony makes the point that one reason God is considered to be perfect is the "fear that an imperfect God would not attract mankind's allegiance." That is, if God isn't perfect, then why worship him? (Or her ... or it ...) It's a simple minded point of view. Fundamentalists are often simple minded.
One of my favorite punching bags is Mormon theology. (For reasons that I won't go into in this article. This article isn't about the failings of that religion.) Mormon theology does have this question covered, however. They believe ...
Well ... The doctrine has fallen out of favor with Mormons recently, but it's certainly deeply embedded in their theology. Brigham Young, for example, was thoroughly convinced of it. See This Link to read more than you wanted to know about it. Today, Mormons prefer to simply not commit themselves because they have discovered that taking a stand means having to defend it. You saw this strategy clearly in the Romney campaign.
... in a doctrine called "eternal progression". The idea is best illustrated by the famous quote from Mormon apostle James E. Talmage, "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may be." The concept clearly suggests that nobody, not even God, is finished becoming better than they are. It's a compelling concept, but it's one that gets Mormons into trouble constantly.
What's your opinion? Is God perfect? Take the poll. I've included a lot of answers in an attempt to make sure that there's one for you. But I might have missed your point of view. After all, I'm not perfect.