What a misrepresentation of God to say that He TORTURES people for not believing.
He's not some kind of sadist who is torturing people for not believing like He's mad or something.
Hell is what it is and people go there of their own volition.
Actually, for someone who rejects God, being in His presence unprotected would probably seem a lot like hell anyway.
God is a consuming fire and sin cannot remain in His holy pureness.
I think it is FAR FAR more likely that a fish could live in a tree, than a lost sinner live in the presence of God, unprotected, as you say.