Aren't you afraid of roasting in hell for an eternity?

Fortunately I've never had this question lobbed at me, but I've seen it come across many a discussion on different websites.

To answer the question, YES, I would be afraid of roasting in hell IF I had some evidence that hell existed, and that my lifestyle was going to lead me there. As of now I have not seen any credible evidence that hell (or heaven) exists other than assertions by religious people. Basically this is just a threat to get people to be scared into believing something without any evidence.

I would rather believe something by evidence than by threat. I personally believe that early in the church they decided that they weren't going to get people to believe the dogma on its own merit. They decided they had to create some sort of unimaginable pleasure if they buy it, and on the flip side create some sort of unimaginable torture if they don't.

Am I afraid of going to hell? I'm just as afraid as the person that has been told that they are going to the Flying Spaghetti Monster hell of strippers with VD and stale beer for not believing in it.