For those who believe in punishment for unbelievers.. Why would God punish people who don't understand him?

Atheists are people who admit they have no knowledge of any evidence that might give them a reason to believe in the existence of any God. For example, as an atheist, I admit to the following: “I don’t know that there is a god to worship. I don’t see how it could make sense that there would be. The whole idea seems quite silly when I think about it.”

Why is God expected to torture, kill, or otherwise refuse positive reward to people like me who happen to be unaware of his existence?