like sadzz said we mere humans aren’t capable of answering these questions … at least not yet.
Now, who likes that kind of UNCERTAINTY? Uncertainty about the most basic and important questions in life … i.e where we came from and the purpose of our lives? No one! I mean with the increase in the levels of consciousness and curiosity that we humans have over the time … we had to come up with answers long ago … and we did.
We created God in our own image. Associated with him all the goodness and greatness and most of the positive attributes of our own (only made them biggest and largest in HIM). And to keep ourselves and masses “in check” we also associated with him the ultimate pain/negative things (azaab, dozakh, duniyaavi aafaat etc.) … and again made them biggest/largest/ultimate. This all pretty much explained most of the things that we didn’t have control over … so the whole thing is pretty much safe, right? sweet!.
with the religious scriptures “words of God” there is this big dilemma. well, how do we know it’s the words of God? because it says so in it. but how do we know it’s right? because it’s the word of God. How do we know? because It says so in the book. how do we know the book can’t be wrong? because they are God’s words and he said this book is right. he said that where? in the book.
For me personally … i do believe in a supreme power … name it whatever you want. But I don’t believe in any God that does not have any more emotional control than me “do as I say or you will be punished”… or … I didn’t need you mere humans but I created you anyway and I know you inside out but I still want to know whether you’re worthy of my ultimate blessings (a place in Jannat … wait there is one more level up… Jannat-ul-firdaus … for extra special ones of you) so, here is a TEST anyway. Remember you have all the answers to this test in a book that I gave you. I knew from the “beginning” that most of you wouldn’t do well in the test so I have this ultimate pain ready for you in Jahannam. (you see all the negative human attributes we associate with God and want to carry in with us in hereafter? 
)
you are damned (miserable) during the test understanding it and miserable after too?
Jaanwar, I know I’ve gone too far with this. you only asked some simple questions. and my answer is that there are no answers. you have to come up with your own answers unless you want to fit in with the “masses of your own kind”…
ok .. ok … I stop here
Don’t give me “that was helpful and appreciated” reply. I know it’s nothing of the sort. 
PEACE 