On Hell and Forgiveness

[SteveII]

1. Man was evil all the time
2. Evil men go to hell (justice)
3. God regrets such events (love)
4. God wiped them all out and started again with Noah (mercy)

Personally, I find this line of reasoning a strange kind of utilitarianism, as if the Deluge was simply a way to prevent more people unnecessarily from suffering Hell by preventing them from even being born. If that was the intent, then why not just smite Cain, who clearly deserved it, and allow the line of Seth to expand in peace.

Who knows. Maybe would not have gotten Noah and his extended family. Maybe there were good people a generation or two back. The list was meant to counter a claim that God wiped people out for emotional reasons. Something like 'regret' is informed by underlying principles/expectations that were not met and itself not entirely an emotional response.