Blaise Pascal?

Question

he said, one of the reasons you should believe in god, is because if you don’t, you’ll go to hell if he really does exist. I find that to be really stupid, and scary, i mean doesn’t that just show how religion controls, i mean i rather not believe. because its what i believe rather then believe in fear, One thing im sure of, is that if there is a God then he/she/it rather you not believe and be a good person, then believe out of fear, and fake it, and probably be an average not so good not so bad person. whats your opinion.

Answer 1

Searcher has described Pascal's Wager more than adequately below, so I won't repeat that.

All I will say is that any religion, government, management, or any other edifice that gets support or belief by employing fear, is not worth being a part of.

Answer 2

Oh, you are talking about Pascal's Wager, which has been extensively debated in the Religion and Spirituality forum. In fact, the regulars now have a drinking game based on this question (if you ask a frequently asked question, everyone participating takes a drink).

Pascal's Wager states that If you choose to accept Christianity and go to heaven, you have not lost anything. But if you reject heaven, you take a risk of ending up in hell. The wager comes in when you gamble that if you don't choose eternity in Heaven, you will lose. Basically, it's a safer bet to choose Christianity.

Answer 3

Pascal was really arguing for reasons to seek God, not directly to believe in God. He thought that if a person were to honestly seek God, then that person would come to belief.

We have to make the wager (whether God exists or not) because if we live our lives without God, we are betting He doesn't exist.

One counter argument is that there are so many gods, which are we to seek? The answer is seek the God who created you. Look inside yourself. Do you know that it is right to be just and loving and compassionate? If God created you, He must have put that knowledge inside you and if He did that, then God must be even more just and loving and compassionate. Start there and seek your Creator.