God as Father

Miller suffers in life because he lacks a father. A father validates one's existence and gives one self-worth. When one grows up with a father, one learns maturity and motivation. Without a father, a child feels like a burden to society. He feels that the opportunities offered to children with fathers do not apply to him.

When Miller meets John MacMurray, however, he sees all these qualities of a father. MacMurray explains that God possesses all the good qualities of a father, also. Moreover, God fails to exhibit the negative qualities of earthly fathers.

MacMurray encourages Miller to submit to the idea of God as a father. Such a concept is new to Miller. He feels that God lives too far away to interact in such an intimate way. Over time, Miller comes to embrace the idea. He realizes that God does the proper things a...