This is a nice piece of flash (I count flash anything less than 1000 words, though definitions do seem to vary wildly).

I agree with Jetse’s quibbles with the underpinning logic. I also struggle with the idea that religious belief would experience a large-scale die-off to the extent described in just a century, but it’s a long enough period of time that I can suspend my disbelief!

But, more importantly in my opinion, the character is well-drawn and quickly established, and the idea of a very lonely, withdrawn man being pushed over the edge is perfect for the setting and concept.

I strongly suspect that a civilisation that has enough space faring capability to *commercially* mine the asteroid belt, will be more than capable to intercept or push an Earth-impacting object off course.

(Actually, I very strongly suspect that *if* mining the asteroid belt is economically feasible, it will happen by robots or Van Neumann Machines, or something that’s both. But I won’t get mundane on your ass…;-)

It also begs the question why God would need to start again: if there are people mining the asteroid belt, I’d expect them on the Moon and Mars (at least), as well.

Apart from my non-suspension of disbelief, a well set-up story, with good foreshadowing and character building.

And a final nitpick: I thought flash fiction was less than 500 words, and short-short between 500 and 1000 words? This one is — I estimate — more than 500 words.

Anyway: keep at it. You’re definitely improving.