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by RC loves ice cream on November 12th, 2009
It's called Pascal's wager, and it's flawed. WHICH God? How about if you life your life as if there was the Christian god, and then discover that the Muslims were right all along, or the Hindus? What if there is a God and he favours those who USE their brain and think critically over those who believe blindly?
by ImaCatholic2 on November 12th, 2009
This is another version of Pascal's wager which is an argument for skeptics:
God exists or He does not exist, and we must of necessity lay odds for or against Him.
If I wager for and God is -- infinite gain (heaven);
If I wager for and God is not -- no loss.
If I wager against and God is -- infinite loss (hell);
If I wager against and God is not -- neither loss nor gain.
Wisdom, therefore, counsels me to make the wager which insures my winning all or, at worst losing nothing.
============
If you believe in God only as a bet then you obviously do not have a deep, mature, or adequate faith. But it is something, it is a start.
From a Catholic viewpoint, it gives God the opportunity to start using His transforming grace in the life of the new believer.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11511a.htm
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0185.html
With love in Christ.
by AnonymousGirl on April 26th, 2011
If I'm dead, why would I care?
by bassie on November 12th, 2009
No, I would rather find my own way then opposed to putting all kind of stupid terms, from some old book, on my peace of mind.
I cannot spend my antire life being afraid what might happen after that life.
I rather live this life to the fullest.
.................
"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
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You're reading I got this as a text, and want to make some people think. Wouldn't you rather live your life as if there was a God, and die to find out there isn't than live like there wasn't and die to find out there is?
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Comments
I didn't even think of it as "which" God. I just saw God and thought God. Other religions have other names for their God.
by medicgirl on November 12th, 2009
Ah yes, but each religion's gods have different expectations of humans. The Abrahamic god is particularly obsessed about being worshipped - and about nobody else enjoying the same privilege. Some other gods might require sacrifices to be offered to them. Some make no personal demands at all - you live a good life and you go to the good place, whatever you believe.
by RC loves ice cream on November 12th, 2009
Only that Jews, Christians, and Muslims all worship the God of Abraham. But that still leaves all the Pagan religions.
by laie_techie on November 12th, 2009
Do they? Jews and Muslims agree that worshipping a human (Jesus) is blasphemy. Christians believe that "the only way to the Father is through [Jesus]". Muslims believe that Mohammed was the last of the great prophets, Jews and Christians believe he was nobody. All agree that it's not enough to just believe in a god, but also to follow certain rules - and those rules contradict each other in different religions.
by RC loves ice cream on November 12th, 2009
There are some pretty sharp differences between those 3 religions about what God is -- it's legitimate to say they're talking about different Gods.
But another problem with Pascal's wager is that it undervalues cognitive clarity: knowing the truth has it's own value, and it's reasonable to say that it's more important to know the truth than to play games with your mind. A clear mind involves letting go of being attached to any particular viewpoint, so you can see without distortion. Pascal advises people to intentionally distort their mind, and you can bet there are consequences for that. He gives those consequences no value.
by HasntBeen on November 12th, 2009