[Serious] What God's justification for eternal torment?

[Confused-by-christianity]

Ostensibly, it would know the difference - but if coercion is an issue it's an issue no matter what lever is being pulled to coerce.  Promises of pain or reward are equivalent in this regard even if we prefer one over the other and regardless of which is more effective.  A cursory glance at theology might suggest that despite any of us having reservations about fear based coercion and love™, it's the more effective strategy for the promulgation of superstition.

Yeah you don't want people hanging out with you just for the money !!  :-) 
Fear does seem to be a powerful motivator.
Do you think we can outgrow it?  Or look past it?
I read an article recently that talked about disgust.  Pointed out that it was a useful feeling that keeps you safe, but that every culture is different with respect to what they find disgusting.  I think the article wondered if we might be missing out on good experiences if we don't understand our disgust feature and overcome it at times??  Use it properly?? 

That's where we depart from agreement.  I see that fear based theologies have had immense staying power.  Maybe we think they shouldn't...but they do.  We're creatures with an existential reality and a deep well of anxiety related to it - and because of this, betting on fear is never a particularly bad bet.

Yeah fair enough - I can see this. 

My assumptions are;  1)  There is an eternity.  2)  Anything false will eventually unravel.  3)  Anything true will survive.
From that perspective - I'd mean to say that fear based religion has a bit of a falsehood in it and so is destined to unravel eventually.  Although it's fair to consider that a fear based religion can linger around for a long time - so long as it's being fed by our nature.  ???

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Option #4. The vast majority of religious people are religious due to cultural inertia. While there are religious converts, they constitute a statistically insignificant minority.

Boru

Probably true.  Maybe a mixture of all the above to varying degrees per person?

Plus some other things I haven't thought of??