"Believe in me or burn for eternity" doesn't seem so benign. If God simply said believe in me or not, and go to heaven either way...he would seem a lot more pleasant, but no more believable.

It frustrates me that people can't see there is as much evidence for any other invisible thing that has/will never communicate with us (none). I guess it's just something people have to think about for themselves. I've found logical debate affects nothing where religion is concerned