Pascal's wager
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Pascal's Wager is a philosophical proposition which takes the following form:
Christianity is either true or false, and a person can either follow it or not follow it.
- If it is false and you do not follow it, you gain the freedom to do whatever you want without penalty.
- If it is true and you do not follow it, you are condemned to an eternity in hell.
- If it is false and you do follow it, you will have wasted part of your life.
- If it is true and you follow it, you will recieve an eternity in heaven.
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. Pascal's wager could also be applied to other religions, so that the most optimal position to be in would be to join as many religions as possible such as Judiasm and [[Christianity or Buddism and Wiccan. Pascal's wager as Pascal stated is inherently flawed within the context of Christianity, because within Christian theology, mere belief in God does not ensure salvation.