Rob, I’m looking at your OP from uncomplicated game theory analysis. The effectiveness of your thought problem as an accusation against Christianity relies on the veracity of specific doctrinal assumptions. In particular, it works against eternal security but not conditional preservation. Election is revealed as problematic but universalism remains untouched. It requires a substitutionary atonement theory of salvation whereas it is a non-issue for Christ victorious. Etc. Etc.
You say that one must choose the right religion but most mainstream and many off-beat Christian denominations are not as exclusionary or the choice as binary as you say. Most churches make allowances for people ignorant of Christ, the perfectly contrite, righteous heathens, etc.
I think the better and more subtle approach would be claiming that God is not being fair. The stillborn get a free ride to Heaven while the rest of us must work for it and run the risk of eternal damnation. The Christian response to this argument; however, would be the parable of the vineyard workers (Matthew 20:1-16). God extends His Grace to both adults capable of reason and those who die in a state of innocence. To complain about how He extends that Grace is like ‘looking a gift horse in the mouth.’
You say that one must choose the right religion but most mainstream and many off-beat Christian denominations are not as exclusionary or the choice as binary as you say. Most churches make allowances for people ignorant of Christ, the perfectly contrite, righteous heathens, etc.
I think the better and more subtle approach would be claiming that God is not being fair. The stillborn get a free ride to Heaven while the rest of us must work for it and run the risk of eternal damnation. The Christian response to this argument; however, would be the parable of the vineyard workers (Matthew 20:1-16). God extends His Grace to both adults capable of reason and those who die in a state of innocence. To complain about how He extends that Grace is like ‘looking a gift horse in the mouth.’