Christians argue that since all of us fear what will come to pass
after death there must be a Hell!
Reason replies:
Presumably, since God makes us and if there is a Hell he would have to warn us
by giving us that feeling.
This argument calls anybody who says they don’t have this fear a liar. Atheists
can fear extinction at death but none fear Hell. One could well argue that
anybody who says they don’t believe in the pope is a liar.
The argument is also vindictive in the sense that it is non-falsifiable –
whoever needs to use bad arguments is teaching harmful doctrine and seeking to
harm us and manipulate us. It is more evil to use non-falsifiable arguments in
favour of nasty doctrines. For example, if Hell logically implies that God is
evil and vindictive and that his worshippers are really condoning his evil
whether they realise it or not then it is infinitely evil to use non-falsifable
arguments in its defence.
The fear of death is not about Hell – it is a fear of extinction and the
unknown. It is only some Christians for most are just skeptics who feel the fear
of Hell. The argument fails if people exist who don’t fear Hell. As they exist
then clearly there is no Hell for God would put the fear of Hell in everybody.
If you don’t fear Hell then presumably you are so evil that you want to go there
even if you live a good life. See the vindictiveness in such a stance?
If there were a Hell the fear of judgment at death would be a universal thing
but it is not. It is among those who have heard of Hell and think it could
exist. But if it existed God would give all people a great worry about what
would happen if they died in a bad spiritual state. If he did, most people would
be devout!