I have the power to send you to hell when you die. I'm going to send you to hell, unless you change my mind by sending me a donation of five dollars.
Sure, I might be lying, but how can you ever know for certain? It's just a measely five dollars, and isn't it worth it to be safe and secure in the knowledge that I won't send you to hell? What's five dollars against the merest possibility that I might be right? Are you willing to take that chance?
Remember that this is not a normal betting situation. The payoff is infinite and the cost is finite. If there is any chance, no matter how small, that I can damn you then it's a good bet to send me the money. You have so little to lose, and infinitely much to gain.
Should I send you my paypal account address? If you don't believe I can send you to hell, why should we believe your God can do the same to us? Because he said so in a book? Well, I'm saying so here on Yahoo Answers. Does Pascal's Wager still make sense to you?
2007-01-13 06:08:08 · 10 answers · asked by Aeryn Whitley 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I can't take credit for the analogy. I orginally saw it here: http://www.jhuger.com/pascal and I think it's brilliant. All I can do is spread the word. ;)
And I'm gonna be a millionaire before this day is up. :p
2007-01-13 06:15:25 · update #1
Excellent analogy. The only significant difference her is that we have some evidence to believe you exist. My five bucks is in the mail.
2007-01-13 06:13:38 · answer #1 · answered by neil s 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you are right. That has always been the problem with Pascal's Wager. Just because someone offers infinite payment in the future doesn't mean you should believe them. It's all to easy to get swindled. It's shocking how easily some Christians buy into this argument. Especially considering that competing religions are saying the same thing.
2007-01-13 07:16:13 · answer #2 · answered by Count Acumen 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are two problems, IMHO, with Pascal's wager:
1. You cannot feign belief before the Almighty. You can't make yourself believe. You might persuade your friends and family, your coworkers, even your pastor/priest, but by definition God would see through such a blatant deception.
2. Why is it a wager between Christianity and atheism? There are dozens of common religions, hundreds of obscure ones, and thousands of cults and dead religions. Why not wager that Islam is right or that Hinduism is the true faith? How about native American religions? Does Shintoism get a wager, too?
2007-01-13 06:27:15 · answer #3 · answered by STFU Dude 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Pascal's Wager is thoroughly demonstrative of the dangers of using false logic.
What if there's a dozen people who all say you owe them five dollars, but you only have enough money to pay one of them, and they ALL say they'll send you to hell if you don't pay up?
2007-01-13 06:27:39 · answer #4 · answered by InitialDave 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
pascal's wager is basically a secular argument based on incomplete logic. i don't think the insincerity of applying it would be very impressive to God. i've never spoken to someone of any religion whose pronounced reasoning was actually based on this rationale.
2007-01-13 06:17:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
what do I get for 20? how much for a position of authority?
2007-01-13 06:17:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The God I know doesn't insist on alms in the form of cash to keep my soul safe.
2007-01-13 06:22:03 · answer #7 · answered by Gary 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
good analogy...as a christian, I think Pascal's Wager is stupid and insults a person's intellegence.
2007-01-13 06:18:03 · answer #8 · answered by 4 Shades of Blue 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Hmm....
*gives 5 dollars*
2007-01-13 06:11:09 · answer #9 · answered by robtheman 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like blackmail to me.
Regardless, my faith in God that His judgement will dictate my final destination.
2007-01-13 06:23:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋