I've noticed that some of you like to quote Pascal's wager (Pascal argued that it is a better "bet" to believe that God exists, because the expected value of believing that God exists is always greater than the expected value resulting from non-belief.).
Let me take that one step further. I buy your argument. Now my question becomes, which faith/God(s) should I choose to adhere to? Since I am hedging my bets let us look at it logically.
I will restrict myself to the main religions. I will discard Buddhism and Hinduism, since if I get it wrong with those guys I will be reincarnated so I can try again.
So, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Which to choose?
- Both islam and Judaism have strict rules about what you can eat. That is a 66% majority, so my bet is not on Christianity here.
- Christianity and Islam have Jesus/Mohammed. Since you disagree on who is what I should avoid the issue and go with Judaism and pray directly to god.
If you think Pascal was right: convert to Judaism.
2007-01-22 23:43:23 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Matthew: way to miss my point there buddy.
2007-01-22 23:52:32 · update #1
Mud: you are also not listening or not understanding.
2007-01-22 23:53:20 · update #2
pascal's principle is true in nature, but adhering to a religion to save your own skin goes against the true nature of religion which is perpetuated out of love, rather than selfishness.
what pascal said is reasonable, and is a good way to debate opposition. but in effect, it becomes almost a scare tactic, religion should not prey maliciously on fear, but rather prey on the moral fibers of man because of mercy, grace, and love.
whatever religion to decide, remember, i am a christian not because i believe in accordance to christianity, but rather because christianity believes in accordance with me. be true to yourself, and the faith will follow.
2007-01-23 00:01:37 · answer #1 · answered by alex l 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Pascal's Wager only works if you assume Christianity is true. Otherwise, there is no God figure to wager against. From a nontheistic standpoint, it is too vague a reasoning to consider. Alright, I contend that it would be better to believe in God than not to, but which God do I choose? Again, Pascal's wager assumes the Christian God is real. Faith is a necessary condition for these arguments to work; arguments that attempt to prove God's existance or necessity in the first place! Behold, the atheist's counter-wager: Live your life well, and do all you can to help mankind. If God does not exist, at least you used your one life well. If God does exist, he will reward your love and kindness. If God does not reward you simply because you did not believe in him, that's not the kind of God you'd like to spend eternity with anyways.
2016-05-24 00:25:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to Judaism the Messiah has not come yet but he will. So then you would have another Jesus at that time.Only difference between Judaism and Christianity is that the Jews believe Jesus was a prophet and Christians believe he was the son of God. As for Mohammed he died and stayed dead. Prophet maybe, but not a God or a son of God, no use praying to him. At least with those two you can pray to a live one!
2007-01-23 00:03:47 · answer #3 · answered by mark g 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not at all. Pascal's Wager points only to atheism as the best bet.
If god is vengeful, he is going to punish those who worship a false god more than those who worship none (atheists).
There are too many gods to make guessing which one to worship an easy bet. Allah, Yahweh, Zeus, Quetzlcoatl, Woden, the Flying Spaghetti Monster -- which? Most of these are vengeful (though the FSM is nothing of the kind, RAmen).
If the supreme being, whatever he is, is not vengeful, all comers to the afterlife will be welcome.
If there is no supreme being or afterlife, which there isn't, you can't lose.
So don't take any chances with your immortal soul - Pascal says go atheist!
2007-01-22 23:52:33 · answer #4 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was converted to Scriptures. (everyone must accept an authority, and I choose to accept Scriptures for mine) According to Scriptures, I must obey them, and that rules out Judaism (though it allows YAHUDISM) and it rules out Islam and churchianity. E.G. The Almighty has a name, it is YHVH the Savior's name means YHVH is my Savior-- so His name is YAHOSHUA. A special day was set apart for rest and worship. It was the Seventh day (Which is normally called Saturday). Ex. 23:13 tells us not to use the names of Pagan deities. We are saved by grace (it is the gift of the Almighty) but He said "If you love Me keep my commandments".
2007-01-22 23:52:38 · answer #5 · answered by hasse_john 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Faith is a mortal choice, a fallible path to the infallible God. That decision lies with you and the almighty.
Cogito Ergo Sum
2007-01-22 23:51:48 · answer #6 · answered by Theophile 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you say you are becoming religious because of pascalls wager, but wouldent then you be doing it for all the wrong reasons. if you are only becoming religious only because it is better for you than to not being religious, thats being almost selfish in a way, and wouldent 'god' know that ?
2007-01-22 23:51:30 · answer #7 · answered by Matthew M 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
you can do whatever you want, but while christians have jesus, we pray to God. That's part of what Jesus did was to give us the right to pray directly to God. That's why upon Jesus' death the curtain to the holy of holies in the temple tore in half.
2007-01-22 23:52:10 · answer #8 · answered by Mud 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋