2006-10-28 08:49:37 · 23 answers · asked by wasp 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Read Blaise pacal "The Pensees" and pay special attention to his "wager"
the famous Pascal's wager:
"God is, or He is not. But to which side shall we incline? Reason can decide nothing here. There is an infinite chaos which separated us. A game is being played at the extremity of this infinite distance where heads or tails will turn up...Which will you choose then? Let us see. Since you must choose, let us see which interests you least. You have two things to lose, the true and the good; and two things to stake, your reason and your will, your knowledge and your happiness; and your nature has two things to shun, error and misery. Your reason is no more shocked in choosing one rather than the other, since you must of necessity choose. This is one point settled. But your happiness? Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is. Let us estimate these two chances. If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation that He is.
If He doesn't exist you will lose very little. But suppose you don't believe in His existence and don't lead a Christian life. If He does exist, then you will suffer eternal damnation! So it is rational and prudent to believe in [a Christian] God's existence and to live a Christian life. "
Broken down like this:
1. You may believe in God,if God exists= you go to heaven: your gain is infinite.
2. You may believe in God, if God doesn't exist= your loss is finite and therefore negligible.
3. You may not believe in God, if God doesn't exist,-your gain is finite and therefore negligible.
4. You may not believe in God, if God exists, you will go to hell= your loss is infinite.
From these possibilities, and the principles of statistics, Pascal deduced that it is better to believe in God.. It is an application of game theory to itemize options and rewards.
2006-10-28 08:51:40 · answer #1 · answered by Dominicanus 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We do all have a "choice" - to choose ( b/c GOD put that choice in us when He made us -
The reason i believe in God - it started b/c i was told about heaven and Hell and i CHOSE to want to go to Heaven - so therefore i have to believe in God to get there-
But then not to long after i CHOSE this - my life actually started changing - the defilent language didn't flow freely from my mouth anymore - i quit smoking (in 1 day) - basically my life changed dramatically - and i didn't even really realize it till i woke up one day and said WOW -
i've really changed (into somone i am proud of) and theres no way i could have done it on my own -
then i realized i fell head over heals with Jesus Christ - He makes my life so miraculous *
i could go on and on with miracles -
so my answer is - at first it was b/c i CHOSE to believe (just incase) there really is a HELL -But now i believe b/c ITruly love the Lord
God Bless you and keep searching the truth ; Toni C Prayre is the answer
2006-10-28 09:03:29 · answer #2 · answered by Toni C *prayer is the answer 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The two bottom line reasons are:
1). Many people we trust more than other people have told us that if we don't we will endure unimaginable suffering
2). We're unable to posit any more creative or realistic concepts of existence and justice than those presented to us in number one -- and if we try, they come out an awful lot like #1 -- i/e: the hundreds of Christian denominations started by existing Jesuits.
"Playing it safe" is a terrible waste of good sense.
I believe in God like I believe in the World Peace Fairy.
2006-10-28 09:02:08 · answer #3 · answered by Em 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That depends, who's God are you referring to? A lot of religions would have you believe their God is the only one and you must believe their God is the only one and that the word of their God must be believed, which most often is actually the word of their religion's hierarchy. Personally I feel it is much more important that you are true to your own faith and beliefs.
Blessed Be )O(
2006-10-28 08:54:57 · answer #4 · answered by Stephen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have a place deep down on the inside that is like a void, emptiness. We are always searching for something to fill it, and when we finally find God that space is filled, and then we have joy and peace and a longing to have more and more
We have a natural born faith to believe in something.
We go and buy a consumable product and if it says it is good, we have the faith to comsume it. Put it on our hair face, swallow it,
Yet we do not know what is in it. We believe the lable
2006-10-28 09:14:53 · answer #5 · answered by Gifted 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one "must" believe in God. It is our choice, and the reason for it is a personal choice too.
2006-10-28 08:53:08 · answer #6 · answered by smiling_nonstop 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Must? You are misinformed. I'm an Atheist which means that I don't believe in god because it is a ridiculous fairytale.
2006-10-28 08:55:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who said you must?? If you dont want to believe in god, then dont believe.... it`s up to you.
2006-10-28 11:33:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What is the reason why humans always believe the thruth?
If you can answer this, you will automatically know the answer to your question.
2006-10-28 09:01:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To some it is a comforting concept. '
But believing in god is not necessary, only those who need a delusion.
2006-10-28 08:53:44 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋