Difference between revisions of "Pascal's wager"
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#If God does exist and you do believe in God, you will receive an eternity in [[heaven]]; infinite gain. | #If God does exist and you do believe in God, you will receive an eternity in [[heaven]]; infinite gain. | ||
| − | [[Blaise Pascal]] reasoned that, given the relative gains and losses for each scenario, the only sensible course for a rational human being was to believe in God since the potentially infinite gains and losses which occur if God exists outweigh any possible loss in a finite situation if God does not exist. This is true regardless of what probability one assigns to God's existence as long as some possibility is assigned. | + | [[Blaise Pascal]] reasoned that, given the relative gains and losses for each scenario, the only sensible course for a rational human being was to believe in God since the potentially infinite gains and losses which occur if God exists outweigh any possible loss in a finite situation if God does not exist. This is true regardless of what probability one assigns to God's existence as long as some possibility is assigned. |
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| + | The concept of such a wager has no Biblical foundation. Nowhere in the Bible are any people expected to guess as to God's existence or will; rather, God reveals Himself to them, at times with great miracles authenticating Himself as the all-powerful [[Jehovah]], but in all cases through both His creation and His Word, the latter of which provides explicit commands which the people are to obey. God's people, elected and predestined to salvation before the foundation of the world, respond to the revealed Word, and they are saved by [[grace]] through [[faith]], with the [[Holy Spirit]] bearing witness from within that they have been justified. There is no [[gambling]] involved. | ||
[[Category:Philosophy]] | [[Category:Philosophy]] | ||
[[Category:Theology]] | [[Category:Theology]] | ||
[[Category: Articles with unsourced statements]] | [[Category: Articles with unsourced statements]] | ||
Revision as of 15:57, July 15, 2010
Pascal's Wager is a philosophical proposition which takes the following form:
God either exists or not.
- If God does not exist and you do not not believe in God, you gain nothing and lose nothing.
- If God does exist and you do not believe in God, you are condemned to hell for eternity; infinite loss.
- If God does not exist and you do believe in God, you gain nothing and lose nothing.
- If God does exist and you do believe in God, you will receive an eternity in heaven; infinite gain.
Blaise Pascal reasoned that, given the relative gains and losses for each scenario, the only sensible course for a rational human being was to believe in God since the potentially infinite gains and losses which occur if God exists outweigh any possible loss in a finite situation if God does not exist. This is true regardless of what probability one assigns to God's existence as long as some possibility is assigned.
The concept of such a wager has no Biblical foundation. Nowhere in the Bible are any people expected to guess as to God's existence or will; rather, God reveals Himself to them, at times with great miracles authenticating Himself as the all-powerful Jehovah, but in all cases through both His creation and His Word, the latter of which provides explicit commands which the people are to obey. God's people, elected and predestined to salvation before the foundation of the world, respond to the revealed Word, and they are saved by grace through faith, with the Holy Spirit bearing witness from within that they have been justified. There is no gambling involved.
