God created the scenario as follows... Eternal bliss, or, eternal torment. That's it. I trust you understand why this is a false dilemma? God choose what is to happen to the ones not in His kingdom. God imposed His will, and decreed one location for all unbelievers/non-followers/or-what-have-you.
You're right, the Bible doesn't describe a pleasant Summerland for those who reject the good Creator God and stop being image-bearing human beings within this good world that God has made. As NT Wright said in the video, "There is a part of me that would really love to be a universalist and say it will be alright everyone is going to get there in the end. But I actually think the choices you make in the present are more important than that."
Do atheists go to heaven? Let me explain... If I don't believe you about something, is this a sin? Most likely not. However, if I do not believe God exists, but still attempt to live a 'moral' life, one that even happens to align with many/most of God's 'morals', would this even matter? Or is the fact that I am an unbeliever still denounce me, no matter what?
Christians believe that no one can live a totally righteous and sinless life. And that we are justified by being "in Christ." But again, I described many degrees of heaven and hell, theologians speculate about these things all the time. But I'm baffled as why an atheist would care about the Bible or what an imaginary God may or may not do? God offers immortality to people and He suffered and died to bring about this immortal life in heaven. If a person thinks this is not enough to love Him and worship Him, that it is only a bedtime story, then all they can hope for is annihilation or reincarnation.
Is disbelief, or not being convinced in Him, considered a 'sin'? All will sin, right up to the point of natural death. It is the ones whom believe, profess, repent, and worship, which are served favor. If I do not believe He exists, none of the above would be possible, logically.
The Christian logic is that evidence for God is everywhere (Romans 1 that you previously quoted) and that many people found God and believed in Him without ever being told about Him. I suggested reading the first few verses of the Book of Tao. The whole book is quite small and is online. So, yes, ignoring the evidence is a sin. Of course, atheists say there is no enough evidence, they can argue this with Christ when they meet Him. He is loving and righteous. Better still ask him now to come into your mind and show the truth.
Hence, Christianity seems to be less about 'morals', and more about following. Furthermore, please remember the point in
Matthew 25:31-46.
He separates into two piles - (alone and
only). No alternatives of any kind mentioned.... And the 'other' pile SUCKS apparently! According to Him.
This what the Lord says to the "goats:"
42 For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in; naked and you did not clothe Me; sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44 “Then they too will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not care for You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Amen, I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’ 46 These shall go off to everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.”
You can see that in this passage, like all the other passages you previously quoted about hell / lake of fire, people are being judged based on their actions, not their beliefs. I discussed this in boring detail in a previous message. So, you're wrong, Christianity is indeed about "morals."
Just as I told you about your provided 3-minute-video. Your provided clip does not deal with the false dilemma.
In the first few seconds of the video, NT Wright refutes the idea that there is a dichotomy between heaven and hell. There are different degrees of hell (see below). In the following 2 minutes of the video, he explains why choices we make in the present, as far as belief and unbelief are concerned, really matter.
The point of my given video, as I see it, is as follows.... As mentioned in post #288: God could choose whom He wants in His 'forever kingdom'. However, God opted for the conclusion that the only alternative plain of eternal existence, is one of mentioned extreme suffering. God has decided to impose His will upon the dichotomy. God setup an environment, which in absence of His direct presence, is only one of torment.
There is no life away from the Source of Life. Have you visited underground caves and caverns? There are beautiful ones in upstate New York. But "life" in them, away from sunlight, is very sparse and very different.
Joh 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Joh 10:10 I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly!
Joh 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life! Whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, shall live.
Are There Different Degrees of Punishment in Hell? | Cold Case Christianity
There Are Degrees of Punishment in Hell
God applies this principle in the next life as well.
God prescribes a variety of punishments in the next life corresponding to the crimes committed in this one:
Revelation 20:12-13
And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
Jesus affirmed this truth in the Parable of the Wicked Servant:
Luke 12:42-48
And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you, that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, shall receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
In the next life, some will be punished more than others. There are clearly
degrees of punishment. In a straight forward interpretation of this parable, those who reject the teaching and calling of God will be harshly punished, while those who have less clarity on what can be known about God (“the one who did not know it”), will be punished with less severity.
Degrees of Punishment in Hell - The Gospel Coalition
Biblical Evidence for the Concept of Degrees of Punishment
Below are some passages of Scripture that speak directly of degrees of punishment in hell. Here we will just cite the verses to establish the teaching in principle; then we will draw on them for specific exposition and application.
“Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town” (
Matt. 10:15).
“But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you … But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you” (
Matt. 11:22, 24).
“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (
Matt. 12:36–37).
“And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more” (
Luke 12:47–48).
“But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed” (
Rom. 2:5).
“How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?” (
Heb. 10:29)