it hadnt reared its ugly head in ages....
yet I have seen it a few times today
but my question is...
do they teach this in some churches ?
or is this Pascals writings popular or something ?
please forgive my naivity in this matter :o) <---- cute face
2007-05-31 12:11:24 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They actually teach it at Sunday school and youth groups. Poor kids think its a valid argument. They also put it to lyrics in some Christian pop music.
2007-05-31 12:14:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 2⤋
No, churches don't teach it!
People come up with it having thought it out without ever having heard of Pascal, think about it, the theory isn't exactly sophisticated or intricate, some might say commonsense; it is just another win/win philosophy, of course it is very flawed as it doesn't put human nature into the equation hence what on the outside looks logical then why does the majority of folk not use it to their advantage......... human nature; it gives us choice and discretion and many would argue that in a real equation god=zero and as such the bet is bogus!
2007-05-31 19:23:49 · answer #2 · answered by ALLEN B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We'll never know the joy of hearing Pascal's Wager for the first time as believers... it must be like a window being opened. My guess is it appears at regular intervals in sermons all over. In those environments there is no call to question it because it makes perfect sense. The pity is that they then bring it, full of confidence, to Yahoo Answers R&S...
2007-05-31 19:15:53 · answer #3 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I actually had it brought up in my Sunday school class back in the day at a Reform Jewish temple. They even took it a step further, by saying that believing in God is itself a reward. In other words, even if there's no God, atheists are still worse off. At the time, it struck me as incomplete even though I didn't at the time point out the flaws specifically. But the thing I remember most about it was the selfishness. I had to wonder what kind of God would want followers who put their faith on the same level as financial investments.
2007-05-31 19:31:47 · answer #4 · answered by Phil 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not generally.
However, one needs to remember that this is an argument that comes somewhere near the last of about 13-15 arguments for the existence of, and service to God.
The way it is stated in R&S, some people make it sound as if this is the ONLY agrument.
2007-05-31 19:31:40 · answer #5 · answered by flandargo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually there's a song that just started rotation on the Christian radio stations that basically Pascal's Wager with a guitar in the background.
Something tells me that a new wave is about to blow through here.
2007-05-31 19:14:31 · answer #6 · answered by Eleventy 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Blaise Pascal, French philosopher wrote it. Do American Christians like the French?
2007-05-31 19:16:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've been a Christian for a long time, and I only heard of Pascals wager here.
Not preached at any Church I've been.
`
2007-05-31 19:15:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Pascal's Wager is a copout for the dishonest. Even though I don't believe it, I'd better believe it just in case it's true. What have I got to lose?
2007-05-31 19:17:13 · answer #9 · answered by Shawn B 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A handful of preachers probably make this argument, sure... I'm not sure on what the pattern behind its surfacing is.
2007-05-31 19:15:01 · answer #10 · answered by WWTSD? 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋