You need to read the whole Quran to understand thoroughly. How many verses did you read which state that Allah is forgiving merciful. All prophets were calling Allah's forgiveness for whatever sins people committed. Forgiveness verses are five more times than punishment. Did you read the following verse?
What would Allah do with your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And ever is Allah Appreciative and Knowing.
Chapter 4 verse 147
You must widen your view and question everything instead of accepting if you are ever to see a Bigger Picture.
Why would Allah need to forgive or be merciful in the first place? Would not Allah already know what you are going to do?
Sins? What Sins? Is it a sin to make a choice in order to Discover what that choice really means? No one gets good without making bad choices. One learns what not to do. Sure, one can be told a choice is bad, however one can only really learn through Living those Lessons.
Isn't it evil to label others as bad. Isn't a bad choice merely a lack of knowledge of all the sides? What are you teaching others when you label them as sinners, evil, or bad? Before long people are blaming, judging, condemning, and hating. Is teaching people to hate or feel bad about themselves really goodness or the Higher Level of God?
Is religion really teaching only goodness? Religion must find something wrong with you so they can be the fix. They will tell you they come from God, yet doesn't their actions and choices prove otherwise?
God's system works on free choices. I say make them freely. Discover what the best choices really are. One should Nurture the Goodness in others instead of trying to convince them of how rotten they are. We can all lead each other to the Best choices with Unconditional Love and Kindness in order to Teach others through our words and actions. Does this sound like a Higher Level?
God's children are a WE!! an US!! It has never ever been a WE against They.
God gave everyone a different view to guaranty mankind a larger view than any one person could have. There is Great knowledge living within diversity. Great knowledge lives beyond the mere surface. It all stares us in the face.
Mankind is a controlling lot. I say listen to the advice of others but choose your own path. Life's lessons are Best learned that way.
That's what I see. It's very clear!!