Argument from evil, restated

[Brakeman]

Delighted to meet you, Zarith.

If god desires for people to choose to love him, then why is there an expiration date on this offer? Surely if hell existed, it would be filled with people who would make a different choice if given one more chance. Don't you think?

Yes, they'd want to be in heaven. But they'd choose heaven for pleasure, not for God. Desiring something, no matter how much, cannot persuade you to love somebody. If a millionaire told you, "Love me and I'll give you a car," could you do it? You might love the car, but not the man. It is impossible to love someone who is a means (of instrumental value) and not an end (destination). If God is not an end in your life right now, the offer of a different end won't change anything. God said, "Have no other gods before me." If you value heaven above God, you cannot inherit heaven.

That's a doosie of a theist response! I'm going to save that one.

So according to your theory, the threat of hell doesn't unduly influence you while you are alive, but after your heart beats the last time, boom! Hell is suddenly too real to allow you to love.

So If I tell a girl on the street to love me or else I will put her in my basement and burn her with matches, she might actually love me, but once I get her down there and strapped down, she's just saying that she loves me to avoid the pain. OK.. Nothing creepy about that..

God is the millionaire who says "love me and I'll give you a car" (heaven). But you have to agree to love him before you get to see the car. Why does the sight of the car or the sight (via death) of the punishment (Hell) matter with the promise (threat)?