If people believe in God because of "the bet"...?

Question

why don't we use the same logic about global warming?

If you are unfamiliar with "the bet" - it's simply believing in God because you want to avoid the consequences of not believing in God. Please, do not argue about religion.

I'd really like to know: Why don't we do something about global warming just on the basis that if it does exist, then we will be solving a global problem and even if it doesn't, we'd be creating a world that is better for our children to live in. Either way humanity is better off.

However, if we choose not to believe in global warming we open up the possibility for some rather disasterous consequences.

Nobody has even touched the question. Why do people believe in God using one type of logic, yet completely fail to apply that SAME LOGIC to other parts of their lives?

Answer 1

Because some people are not into solving global problems and don't care about humanity being better off. They are benefiting personally from not addressing the issue. Pascal's miserable argument was an attempt to create a win-win situation. But those who are benefiting from global warming think they are already winning, and figure why fix it if it ain't broke. Actually, they are still taking the bet. They are saying: If global warming doesn't exist, then I don't need to do anything about it. And if it does exist, then the only way I can win is to make sure I get mine now. Anyway, you can't apply the bet to global warming, because the original wager involved the consequences of only one person, and global warming involves consequences for everyone.

Answer 2

The central tenet of Pascal's Wager is that everyone accepts that, while not believing in the biblical God if She is real will have drastic negative consequences (Hell), believing in God is easy and inexpensive to do whether She is real or not. Hence, it is a good bet to make.

The reasons Pascal's Wager doesn't work as effectively for global warming are that the consequences if it is real are ambiguous while the cost of dealing with it is high.

Interesting thought though!

Xan Shui,
Philosophic Philanthropist, Honest Man

Answer 3

Its true I tell you.

Global warming is at our doorstep and nothing is being done about it. The bigest factor for global warming has to be the burning of fossil fuels. The bigest sinners for that has to be the japanese americans south africans and still they just choose to look elsewhere. Why you ask? Profit.

Profit from fossil fuels has to be a billion dollar industry. What is the profit gonna help us when global warming is in full swing?

But taking into account if another source than oil is gonna be used the western world would be brought to its knees.

Answer 4

that's a good enough philosophy to get the job done, because I do belive global warming exists, I don't think it is a question of whether it does or not. That actually sound weird to me, or maybe it's just the government trying to play it down.

and also...how long will it take for us to actually help the globe reduce and control the effects of global warming? I think today is the best time to start doing things about it...policies and innovations. It is imparitive that we help our eco system regain it's balance.

Answer 5

The problem with applying pascal's wager to global warming is that there are some pretty major economic problems with trying to cut carbon emissions. It would in fact inevitably lead to a decreases in quality of life. Therefore most politicians are unwilling to risk promoting beneficial environmental policies because they don't think they can get elected on them.

Answer 6

It is not called "the bet" but "the Prisoner's Dilemma", and it was introduced by Sartre, and it is flawed in that there can be more than one God, so if you believe in the wrong one then you are in big trouble. Same goes with Global warming, if you believe that what we are doing is the only cause for global warming and you are wrong then we still roast like pigs in the scorching sun. Think over population and increasing carbon dioxide levels. you could be wasting valuable resources, just like you could be worshipping the wrong God.

Answer 7

The true consequences from global warming would and is way to devistating for most to understand. GW is only getting worse and think we will see true effects within 5 years.

Answer 8

It does exist, not god, but global warming. According to scientists it will be at least 3 more generations before the true affects of it are felt wordwide. That's 100yrs, not that far off at all.

Answer 9

Oh, I believe that the ice caps are melting. Why would scientists lie about that? What are we going to do about it ? Re-freeze the ice caps that are melting at three times the rate they were melting at just 10 years ago? How are we going to do that? Once enough ice melts, the Earth won't be able to reflect enough of the sun's energy back into space. So it gets hotter. Guess what? The ice melts even faster. So it gets even hotter.

Venus' surface temperature is above 800 degrees Fahrenheit because of it's inability to reflect the sun's radiation back into space. Paper catches fire at 451 degrees Fahrenheit.

Answer 10

simple enough. because we as a people are lazy. in fact the general concensious is if you ingore a problem it may not go away but youll be long gone before it ever becomes to hard to handle and your children can deal with it.....in fact if they cant it just goes to prove evolution right? survival of the fittest obviously if they cant survuve then they dont deserve to...what bad judgement i hate to say its true but it is. just look at life around you..in short if you want something done your going to have to initiate it yourself. relying on others will ultimatly lead to yours and all of ours undoing.