is it fair to assume that every church teaches pascal's wager to their followers?

Question

because every new person who comes here asks that same drinking question. are they actually taught that as a valid argument to believe in god?

maybe they just like to see the non believers get drunk first thing in the morning.

Answer 1

I definitely think almost every church teaches Pascal's Wager in some form. They may not necessarily refer to it that way but I do think at some point or another, the church always teaches that believing in God is better than the 'alternative'. In my opinion, this is yet another tactic used to scare their followers into not straying from the flock.

Or...it could just be that they are all just trying to get us wasted first thing in the morning. You never know.

Answer 2

Well, I can't speak for all churches, but the church I grew up in never taught anything like that. Come to think of it, they never really taught much of anything that I can recall. All fluff and cotton candy kind of crap. I preached there a few times, and made the mistake of mentioning the "s" word (sin, not the other one, lol)--I got in trouble for that. But I digress. No, that church sure didn't teach anything like Pascal's wager--it would require too much thinking on both sides.

Answer 3

I attended a lot of churches as a kid, and I never heard it.

The thing is, a lot of the newbies that present the wager haven't ever heard of Pascal. They think they came up with it, or they heard it from someone else (probably online), but they've never researched it or thought about it logically. Typically, after the flaws are pointed out theists will backtrack. "No, no, I don't believe because I'll get a reward! That's not what I meant at all!"

Answer 4

Who the heck is Pascal, and why do atheists care so much about him?

*wink*

*drink*

From now on, every time I see mention of "Pascal's Wager" no matter who it's from, I am going to drink. Here's to being sloshed most of the time!

Answer 5

maybe some do......

but not all of them.........

at least I hope not. I would like to hope that we believe because our faith is strong enough and that we can stand on what we believe in regardless of what anyone is saying. But, I have seen time and time again, that too many people say I believe so because somebody told me.... and they can't back it up.

I can tell you why I believe and its not because of pascal's wager. But I think some christians might believe because of pascal's wager. and that is sad.

Answer 6

LOL - I actually never heard Pascal's Wager until I came here.

It's been years since I've set foot in a church, though. Who knows what they're preaching now...

Answer 7

Splendid theory - that fits the observed data.

Here's another: the intellect of this breed of theist is just enough to find Pascal's Wager - in whatever form they express it - a convincing argument.

And perhaps just smug enough to present it here as a 'so, what about THAT, then?' kind of trump card.

CD

Answer 8

I've had it emailed to me without credit to the originator, as if the person had just thought of it himself and had stumbled upon some profound wisdom. Course I've also seen the "then why are there still monkeys?" argument a few times from people that really thought that no one else had thought of it.

Answer 9

They certainly use it when they try to win recruits.

Doorknockers love to try it as a way to get the thin edge of the wedge in.

It really knocks them over when you come back with "Isn't the Pascal's wager approach a cynical waste of time?...........is that why you believe?"

Answer 10

I've listened to sermons for 33 1/2 years and heard Pascal's name mentioned for the first time last week.

Blessings Balaam

P.S.: You don't believe in God? A Bible code identifies the Messiah at http://abiblecode.tripod.com

"THE WISE SHALL UNDERSTAND"