Argument from evil, restated

[Undeceived]

Hello again, Zarith.

So let's call it like it is, and state that the creator makes statues that have the impulse to lie, cheat, steal, murder, rape, torture, and whatever other horrible thing we can think of.

As ronedee says, no option makes us robots. Without a evil, there is nothing to choose. Ergo, it is not possible to love.

Evil is the void of good--it is anything done against God's will. So God need not create us with an 'impulse' for evil. He need only make it occur to us that we can disobey. He did this through Satan in the garden. Satan presented the possibility of sin to Adam and Eve. God used Satan to introduce free will, and with it, love.

Then of the statues that make this request, some will make it and claim that it has been granted, while continuing to do bad things.

Romans 3:7-8
Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!

Others will make the request and it won't be granted, and they will be told that this is because they did not ask in the right way, were not sincere about it, or whatever.

If you’re worried, try this: “God, I’m sorry for every wrong I’ve done against others and against you. Thank you for sending your son to take my punishment for me. Please forgive me.” I think you can judge whether you are sincere or not.

All of this is necessary because it is of the utmost importance that these statues be able to choose to make such a request.

What’s important is love. Take a few minutes and imagine a world without love.

Now imagine a world without evil or love—this is the world you seem to advocate. Is it worth living in?

I seem to recall an old Star Trek episode along these lines. There existed an alien race without pain, but also without emotion. When confronted with a choice between the status quo and a world with both pain and emotion, the race picked emotion, pain included. In essence, they chose to climb the ladder from dumb animal to rational, moral human.

Then of course there is the issue of, if heaven and hell aren't supposed to influence our decision, then why are people informed of their existence?

One reason: hope.
1 Corinthians 13:13:
“Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Free will produces love. Promises produce hope. Experience produces faith.
Heaven encourages us to “fight the good fight” and “finish the race” (2 Tim 4:7).

Another reason: truth.
Truth is the most powerful weapon on earth. It motivates. Without the knowledge of hell, believers would have no reason to spread the good news. There would be no goal. Humans are narrow-sighted. As much as we might want to do things for God, we would see nothing wrong with dabbling in sin at the same time. Hell reminds us just how grievous our sins are in God’s sight.

Can you think of a question more relevant to human existence than the afterlife?