Punishment can only go so far.... but it is necessary at times. God, the father has chosen which times are which in our development, both individually and collectively.
But, from the actual evidence we have- everyone that has ever lived has been punished equally- with death. And we have no evidence of anyone ever not being punished with death. Even those who are claimed in holy writings to have been perfect and not deserving of punishment- died.
So... death looks more like a natural event than punishment.
Punishment carries the assumption that there is hope for reform. The person being punished understands the reason for and extent of the punishment. Making someone hurt when they don't know the reason isn't punishment- its torture. So if God is responsible for punishing people by making them suffer- and they don't understand the reason for the suffering- its actually torture.
I'm not arguing about the existence of God- I don't know and dont think there is sufficient evidence to know. I do have problems with the "god" of the "bible" though.