Pascal's Wager

...is Christianity the easy way out?

Published on March 18, 2004 By dharmagrl In Philosophy

I was reading some of Pascal's 'Pensees' ( Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662) and thought that just for fun I'd post the Wager to see what kind of response it got...

It goes something like this:

"If you believe, and God exists, you gain everything. If you disbelieve, and God exists, you lose everything."

In other words...

"It makes more sense to believe in God than to not believe. If you believe, and God exists, you will be rewarded in the afterlife. If you do not believe, and He exists, you will be punished for your disbelief. If He does not exist, you have lost nothing either way. "

I wonder sometimes how many Christians base their belief system on something very similar to this......

Comments (Page 2)

JillUser

on Mar 18, 2004

How could science possibly disprove it? I don't see anything short of Jesus returning that would prove or disprove anything.

dharmagrl

on Mar 18, 2004

Thank, you Jill. That's what I was after, I wanted to know people's experiences, their thoughts, their mind-set about this.

You're right, there's no way to either prove or disprove the existence of God. It's all down to personal preference and experience, and that's what I'm interested in.

Thanks for your input!

crimson

on Mar 18, 2004

How could science possibly disprove it? I don't see anything short of Jesus returning that would prove or disprove anything.

JillUser: Sorry, I meant to say that science could disprove blood memory, but to those who believe in blood memory, science doesn't have any bearing on the matter. In this way, the two are similar. It comes to a matter of belief. A matter of faith.

For me, because I've been wrestling with the idea of spirituality, both in Christianity and in Anishnaabe culture, I find it difficult to say that one is more right than the other. I believe in some of the more common aspects of both... the ideas of loving each other, taking care for each other, and trying to be good to everyone without judgement. As far as Hell goes, it's something that I've heard about, but not really taught. The church that I went to, United, never talked about Hell. Ever. Instead, the reverend focused on the more positive things found in the Bible. In Anishnaabe teachings, it just isn't present at all. I think what faith I do have, is a combination of both cultures. Hopefully, if I live my way the best way that I know how from both, things will turn out all right in the end. And maybe the whole cycle will begin again.

JillUser

on Mar 18, 2004

I have always felt that if there is truly an omnipresent God, he/she sees that you live a respectable, kind, caring life but don't go to church, how could he/she punish you? It just seems like you would have to do something evil to warrant eternal damnation. You can have spiritual feelings and pray to God but never set foot in a church or except that Jesus is your savior. Will you go to hell? What if you go to church every week, go through all the motions you were taught as a child but don't feel it in your heart. Will you go to hell?

dharmagrl

on Mar 18, 2004

I think I have found my soul-mates....

!!

I have felt in the past the same things that you 2 are feeling now...and then some. I'm in too poor of a mood to be able to formulate a post about them at the moment, but I will in the very near future...

I really just wanted to thank you both for giving your ideas, thoughts, and opinions so freely....

Sherye Hanson

on Mar 18, 2004

Dear Dhama,
I'm sorry I sounded so defensive. but the way that you worded the wager sounded too simplistic. I think the wager only convinces those who are afraid of death and want to believe anyway. As for myself, Hell had no meaning for me because I was so depressed I felt like I was in hell anyway. Most modern people aren't really convinced to believe based on heaven or hell but by what God can do for us now.
At least that is my experience.

imajinit

on Mar 19, 2004

Dan, you're the only guy that's commented on this entire thread... you're such a girl... hahaha

wait, i just posted a reply too...

DAMNIT!

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