Why can't Christians understand that Pascal's Wager is not a good argument for Christianity?

Question

Pascal's Wager: There are two choices. Believe in God or don't believe. It makes more sense to believe than not to believe.

"Therefore, we are faced with the following possibilities:

* You believe in God.
o If God exists, you go to heaven: your gain is infinite.
o If God does not exist, your loss (the investment in your mistaken belief) is finite and therefore negligible.
* You do not believe in God.
o If God exists, you go to hell: your loss is infinite.
o If God does not exist, your gain is finite and therefore negligible. (courtesy of wikipedia.)"

Now there are two major problems with this. First, you can't always help what you believe. I myself struggled to believe in Christianity before finally coming to the conclusion it was all a lie. I wanted to believe but I couldn't. Second, why would God want you to believe in Him just so you can go to heaven and not go to Hell.

Very bad argument for belief.

Ah, Om makes a good point. If every religion said a similar thing, but only one is right? Then, statistically, it would be incredibly likely that you make the wrong choice and doomed to damnation. Or worse, nothing is right so you're ****** no matter what you do.

Obviously, Maurice, you don't understand what Pascal was trying to say.

Bubba....you missed the entire point. Belief cannot be compared to insurance. There is tangible evidence that not having fire insurance can be a bad idea because you can lose all of your possessions in a fire and have no way to be compensated for that. There is no evidence that not believing in God is going to cause me a problem. This is a statistical statement, Pascal's Wager, and is flawed. You missed the point entirely.

Answer 1

1) you cannot choose what you believe is true, unless you are insane - A *sane* person reacts to what he percieves as true. You do not choose which ball is red & blue, you see one as red & one as blue, and you cannot choose to see it otherwise.

2) if you don't believe a god exists, you cannot "believe just in case"

3) So, if there WAS a god, would it accept this "insurance policy" belief? Would it accept your "just in case" faith? I think not.

4) Maybe a god exists, but it doesn't want you to believe in it, so ATHEISTS will be rewarded because there's NO REASON to believe a god exists... that's just as likely as anything else

Oops, I just farted, I'd better go wipe (just in case).

Answer 2

It's worse, because they don't perceive that anything is lost by believing, which is most certainly not true. Worshipping an evil deity just because it's powerful is selling oneself out in the worst possible way.

Not to mention the Christian world view is unbalanced and extremely harmful. I daily witness the pain of some of my friends who could easily overcome their problems with a healthier world view.

Answer 3

I believe that Christianity is a lie. God is not that monster in that hate filled bigoted book of fiction.

I believe that most souls cross. No idiotic religion has anything to do with it. The weak minded are free to live their lives in fear of an imaginary place created by greedy men who wanted to control them and collect their money. I have more common sense than that.

Answer 4

I am assuming that you carry insurance on your automobile and home, so that in case of fire or accident you will be covered. Now, you don't really know if you will ever have a reason to use that insurance or not, but you have it anyway, just in case. Basically, you can't be against Pascal's Wager because this is Pascal's Wager. Why would you insure worldly tangible things but refuse to insure your own soul? Think about it, 'cause there might be a fire.

Answer 5

Thanks I need another shot. Anyway Pascal's Wager is flawed in many ways like you said and does not work on all that many people who aren't gullible. Anyway if you ask me I like the Atheist's Wager better.

Answer 6

Not to mention that there are many many gods who all demand worship and threaten hell. So how do you know you picked the right one? What if it's not Allah? What if it's Baal, or Thor, or Zeus who is the one true god?

Answer 7

These aren't my words, but it's brilliance disguised in a chain-letter......
conman: "Thus sayeth the Great OogahBoogah: Give my messenger ten percent of your crops."
mark: "Who is this OoogahBoogah?"
conman; "OoogahBoogah is the maker of all things and the all-powerful king of the cosmos, and he wants your wheat."
mark: "He didn't tell me. And if he can make everything, why does he need my wheat?"
shill: "Oh I was with the messenger when OoogahBoogah gave this command, and I assure you it's true."
conman: "The great OogahBoogah needs nothing from you, but you must show him your respect and acknowledge his power with this donation."
mark: "I don't know. I'm afraid OogahBoogah is going to have to come here and tell me himself."
conman:"OogahBoogah will not come hither because you have sinfully withheld your crops from his messenger and have not believed his message."
mark: "Okay, I'll go to him. Where is he?"
conman: "He is at the top of that tall mountain over there, watching to see if you obey him. "
mark: "I was up on that mountain last week and I didn't see any OogahBoogah."
conman: "That is because he is invisible."
mark: "So I'll feel around for him."
conman: "But he is spirit and has no substance. You cannot feel him."
mark: "Okay. He gave me a command that I didn't hear?"
conman: "Because you are unworthy! But in his mercy he sent me to you."
mark: "Uh-huh. And I can't go to him because he's invisible?"
conman: "Only those who accept OogahBoogah by faith and give 10% of their crop to his messenger will be blessed after death with seeing his face."
mark: "Okay, I think I've got it." Looked for, he cannot be seen?"
conman: "Right"
mark: "Listened for he cannot be heard?"
conman: Right."
mark: "Felt for, he cannot be touched?"
conman: "Correct"
mark "OogahBoogah's a Shaolin priest, not a god. Go away!"
conman: "Infidel! OogahBoogah will destroy you in his fiery torture pit!"
mark: "I'll risk it."

Get it?

Answer 8

Another major problem, is which "god" do you pick to believe in? There are thousands of religions, each with their own concept of god. Which do you choose?

Answer 9

Because the bible says that God chose to hide himself and Atheists always ask for proof. He has proved to us He is real but didn't leave anything tangible for us to prove to others that He is real. It's a last resort. The point isn't that it is a lame argument, the point is that they just want you to be able to go to heaven.

Answer 10

Well said. I don't know why they don't get it. They could easily be wrong, just like everyone else. But then, facing reality hasn't been a religious thing.