The cost of Pascal's wager is huge.
It means living in denial of your own doubts and suspicions.
It means closing yourself off from the quest for knowledge.
Is it not better to make a firm decision on where you stand rather than the cop out of hedging your bets?
2007-03-31 01:47:27 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Marry Me!
Seriously, you have some excellent view points, and your q&as are terrific- well thought out.. I'm impressed!
and I agree. There is a cost to sticking one's head in the sand and not questioning everything.. how does one grow and learn without it?
2007-03-31 01:50:02 · answer #1 · answered by Kallan 7 · 8⤊ 3⤋
While, of course, I cannot speak to all peoples of the Christian faith, I have seen much while growing up in the midst of it. It seems that many professing Christians have given up on the quest for knowledge because they have been led to believe that all the knowledge they need is contained in the Bible. Unfortunately, they also cut themselves off from the quest for spirituality and, as one friend of mine says, become Sheeple. They count not the cost of Pascal's wager because to their way of thinking, there isn't one. They weigh the cost of doubting...it shows a 'lack of faith' in their God. It's sad really. Questioning and doubting can actually lead to a journey of strengthening and growth.
2007-03-31 08:59:18 · answer #2 · answered by bast_sharifa 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ms Militant Agnostic: I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone (okay, any atheist) is saying they KNOW there's no God. The whole point is about BELIEF. Pretty much everyone is agnostic, it's not really a meaningful term. I was under the impression it was somehow a noble banner up until a few weeks ago, but it really is a cop-out unless used in conjunction with something else. As in agnostic atheist - can you honestly say you have no leaning OF BELIEF either way?
Oh and Missing Link - you go sibling!
2007-03-31 09:04:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, Pascal knows there is a cost, but the point Pascal is making is that the cost is too great to not believe in God than to believe in God, thus the most intelligent and best choice is to believe in God.
No, you do not have to live in denial of your doubts and suspicsions, you can acknowledge them and still make the choice to believe in God and accept the better of the two choices.
No, you do not close yourself off to the quest for knowledge. It was Christianity that brought Europe out of the dark ages and into the age of Enlightenment. God requires that man holds truth in the highest regard, and in fact my whole life is dedicated to truth. I'm also a professional biologist by profession.
There are two dimensions of science in this universe. The first one that you know about is empirical science which is based upon the five senses. The second dimension of science in this universe is spiritual which requires revelation and faith to test it and affirm it as knowledge. Empirical science requires the 5 senses to test and affirm knowledge and Spiritual science requires revelation and faith to test and affirm knowledge.
Diligently believe and apply the words of Jesus and see what happens, if you do not reap a good reward then you can reject Christianity as truth or science. The problem most people have with Christianity is that it is difficult to live it and test it out and so most people do not try it. I struggle to live by the words of Christ, but it is my goal to grow as I keep pressing toward the goal. I can look back now and see how far I have come to grow, know, and live as Christ.
Truly take a taste of God and see if He is good or not. Consider Pascal's wager. Which will bring you the greater loss?
2007-03-31 09:19:16 · answer #4 · answered by neofreshmao 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Not true on either count.
1- Everyone has doubts and suspicions on occasion. Our faith is what brings us back to God in those times. "What is faith? The fervent belief in things hoped for; the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1)
2 -Blaise Pascal was a very religious man - he was also a brilliant mathematician and scientist. Many of the early scientists and men of learning were men of faith. Faith and reason are not opposed to one another - they actually complement one another.
Check out Thomas Aquinas - a brilliant philosopher and also a saint of the Catholic Church and Doctor of the Church - patron saint of philosophers, teachers and lecturers
2007-03-31 08:57:46 · answer #5 · answered by the phantom 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
True knowledge of God leads to no doubts, no suspicions. It actually leads to immense knowledge for those who seek after Him. It is making a firm decision on where you stand. Pascals wager is not a cop out, it is simply a statement to stimulate looking into a possibility that may have not been researched carefully enough. Let us say for the sake of debate, that the devil is real and he wants us all to be in an ETERNAL state of total confusion and despair. Along comes God, who says," no way dude, I am making a way out for these people, I believe they are worth it" You want to be a doctor? go to college, educate yourself to be a doctor. You want that job?, better show up for the interview. You want to drive legally? get a license and insursance. Do you want to avoid hell? talk to Me.
2007-03-31 09:06:48 · answer #6 · answered by patrick m 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
On the contrary the benefits of believing in God are huge.
1. Peace of mind
2. Better relationships follow because you become a loving and caring person.
3. God blesses those who belong to him abundantly. I have more money now than when I was an agnostic.
Peace and every blessing!
2007-03-31 10:02:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The operative quote here is:
"I find it necessary to point out the sinfulness of those
men who live in indifference to the search for truth..."
The reference is to the process, not the results. Indeed
anyone who is entirely satisified with their religion also
violates this premise.
On such a vast subject with such unprovable
postulations, I remain your militant agnostic.
Militant agnostic: I don't know. And NEITHER DO YOU!
2007-03-31 08:55:59 · answer #8 · answered by Elana 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think the power of self-delusion outweighs the pull of intellectual honesty ... and for atheists, it's the other way around.
two ways of living, i suppose. it amounts to little more.
2007-03-31 09:13:12 · answer #9 · answered by Brendan G 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
like all intellectuals a grey person! I'd wager my life on it!
2007-03-31 08:54:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋