Comments on: Pascal’s Wager: gambling with an immoral god http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/06/18/pascals-wager-gambling-with-an-immoral-god/ Skepticism. Critical thinking. Podcast. Community. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:58:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: David http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/06/18/pascals-wager-gambling-with-an-immoral-god/#comment-480 David Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:30:42 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=90#comment-480 Sebastion, I am not sure about your claim that the only choices available in Pascal's time were Christianity or non-belief. Although non-Christians were not treated fairly in Pascal's time there were certainly Jews and to a lesser extent Muslims in Europe and I would venture to guess other minority religions. Surely, Pascal was aware of the existence of other religious belief systems - so he could have chosen to believe in Zeuss or Allah. Even among Christianity there were already lots of beliefs that he could have chosen. Would Pascal have said that it was a good bet to believe in Allah if you were in Jeddah but Christ in Paris? David Sebastion, I am not sure about your claim that the only choices available in Pascal’s time were Christianity or non-belief. Although non-Christians were not treated fairly in Pascal’s time there were certainly Jews and to a lesser extent Muslims in Europe and I would venture to guess other minority religions. Surely, Pascal was aware of the existence of other religious belief systems - so he could have chosen to believe in Zeuss or Allah. Even among Christianity there were already lots of beliefs that he could have chosen. Would Pascal have said that it was a good bet to believe in Allah if you were in Jeddah but Christ in Paris?

David

]]> By: Allan http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/06/18/pascals-wager-gambling-with-an-immoral-god/#comment-460 Allan Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:06:44 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=90#comment-460 To ake sebastian's point a little further...David your arguements are sound given your personal context in these times. And based on this ..who knows what the future holds and what contexts will be available for the ideas of those times. Great isint it? To ake sebastian’s point a little further…David your arguements are sound given your personal context in these times. And based on this ..who knows what the future holds and what contexts will be available for the ideas of those times. Great isint it?

]]> By: sebastion http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/06/18/pascals-wager-gambling-with-an-immoral-god/#comment-429 sebastion Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:20:16 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=90#comment-429 David Annis did not let his readers know that Pascal wrote in a time and environment wherein the only choice to the people was Christianity or non-belief. Thus, Pascal's logic is sound given that context. David Annis did not let his readers know that Pascal wrote in a time and environment wherein the only choice to the people was Christianity or non-belief. Thus, Pascal’s logic is sound given that context.

]]> By: Chris http://www.dbskeptic.com/2008/06/18/pascals-wager-gambling-with-an-immoral-god/#comment-394 Chris Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:55:30 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=90#comment-394 David, You are the first person to come close to my objection to Pascal's wager. Thank you. I would explain the fourth paragraph slightly differently. No religion I know of, not even Pascal's Catholicism, claims that mere belief in God gets anyone to some desired goal like heaven. Every religion I know claims you must also do some additional actions or believe some additional things. In Protestant Christianity, for example, mere belief that Christ is God is not enough. You must also believe Christ's death "saved" you. Catholicism, in addition to this belief, also requires participation is certain sacraments. And, even if all religions are wrong and Pascal's argument that merely believing in God will get to some paradise is correct, how would you possibly know? So, in my opinion, Pascal's wager provides no useful guidance about what to believe. David,

You are the first person to come close to my objection to Pascal’s wager.

Thank you.

I would explain the fourth paragraph slightly differently.

No religion I know of, not even Pascal’s Catholicism, claims that mere belief in God gets anyone to some desired goal like heaven. Every religion I know claims you must also do some additional actions or believe some additional things. In Protestant Christianity, for example, mere belief that Christ is God is not enough. You must also believe Christ’s death “saved” you. Catholicism, in addition to this belief, also requires participation is certain sacraments.

And, even if all religions are wrong and Pascal’s argument that merely believing in God will get to some paradise is correct, how would you possibly know?

So, in my opinion, Pascal’s wager provides no useful guidance about what to believe.

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