(1) It is possible that the Christian God exists and it is possible that the Christian God does not exist.
(2) If one believes in the Christian God then if he exists then one receives an infinitely great reward and if he does not exist then one loses little or nothing.
(3) If one does not believe in the Christian God then if he exists then one receives an infinitely great punishment and if he does not exist then one gains little or nothing.
(4) It is better to either receive an infinitely great reward or lose little or nothing than it is to either receive an infinitely great punishment or gain little or nothing.
Therefore:
(5) It is better to believe in the Christian God than it is not to believe in the Christian God.
(6) If one course of action is better than another then it is rational to follow that course of action and irrational to follow the other.
Therefore:
(7) It is rational to believe in the Christian God and irrational not to believe in the Christian God.
2007-05-20 06:01:52 · 16 answers · asked by BreadCollision 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Pascal's Wager was published posthumously based upon some crude notes his friends found in his home. It's very doubtful that this is what Pascal had in mind.
Try this formulation: It is reasonable to seek your Creator even though you don't know for sure whether your Creator exists. You know good from evil; right from wrong and if you were created, it is reasonable that your Creator put that knowledge within you.
It is also reasonable that if you know good from evil that your Creator knows it even better and if that is true, then your Creator will forgive honest mistakes. So honestly seek your Creator.
I think my formulation answers all of the criticisms of Pascal's Wager.
2007-05-23 23:57:07 · answer #1 · answered by Matthew T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
LMFAO!
Remember that guy about 5 months ago who'd just discovered Pascal's Wager and posted something like "I bet that you atheists have never heard about this!"?
Poor sap.
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I think this calls for two drinks.
Now, besides the other arguments against Pascal's Wager, there's the fact that it assumes that Christians are correct about everything except possibly the existence of god. Christians who cite P.W. as though it were a good argument are apparently unable to conceive of the possibility that they could be wrong about anything except possibly God's existence. It reveals an amazing arrogance.
I don't already accept Christianity's tenets. What would make you think that if I don't believe in God, I nonetheless happily accept the premise that "if there is a god, believing in him gets you to heaven and not believing in him leaves you going to hell"?
Are you Christians really so unable to understand that others don't agree with your beliefs? It seems so. The use of Pascal's Wager is a perfect illustration of the fact that Christians in general know very little about religion, at least when compared with nonbelievers.
2007-05-20 13:10:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
So you are saying that people should live a fake life for the reward at the end, if there is no reward - it was all for naught.
I'd rather be myself thankyou. The Christian "God" is nothing but a pair of incestuous homosexuals - is the reason I don't believe in it. They'd have to come up with something better to fool me. The Christian "God" is an irrational doctrine. What a conception. Ha ha ha ha ha ha . . .
2007-05-20 13:17:57 · answer #3 · answered by Lukusmcain// 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Are you serious!!
First. Lets include all the religions that ask us to believe. Which one do I place my wager with? Should I believe in every god ever worshiped?
Second If their truly was an all knowing god, wouldn't he know I was insincere?
Third it offers a 50/50 chance. The odds are astronomical not 50/50
This in the lamest argument ever for following Christianity
2007-05-20 13:10:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
*drinks a Cajun Martini*
How do we know there really is an afterlife? What if this really is all there is?
Isn’t it better to not take the chance, and live THIS life to its fullest? Have fun with things? If you're going to be alive anyways, you might as well have a good time while you're at it. Because if you don’t you might have just wasted your one shot at existence hoping and praying for an afterlife that might not even exist.
2007-05-20 13:28:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, by all that you hold valuable, don't use it again. It's utter rubbish. By Pascal's reasoning, you would be able to persuade yourself that it's a good idea to believe in the Great Leaping Purple Bear of Eternal Joy.
2007-05-20 13:17:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian and that is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard.
Saying one will believe because it "makes better since" is so stupied It is not funny.
No one will be saved just because they say "well they might be right so I better believe".
If someone is going to believe it has to be from the heart not from a wager.
2007-05-20 13:33:42 · answer #7 · answered by Rev R 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Gee, no, I never heard of that before. Wow, I guess I better start faking my belief in sky daddy, I'm sure he will appreciate that.
Additionally, you forget that if God does not exist you've wasted your life fretting over whether or not you will go to hell or if you sin, observing empty rituals and bothering others with your nutty beliefs.
2007-05-20 13:06:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
What are the chances that such a god (the Bible god) exists anyway?
Whatever other gods there may be.
Study the Bible, and tell me what are the chances that such an immature mixed-up god rules the universe...
2007-05-20 13:08:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Except that you forget that the choice isn't between the Christian god and no god. It is between all gods and no god. Your claim on exclusivity just went down tremendously.
2007-05-20 13:06:49 · answer #10 · answered by Lynus 4 · 6⤊ 0⤋