:: Pascal's Wager ::

[METALLICA]

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Pascal's Wager is Blaise Pascal's application of decision theory to the belief in God. It is one of three 'wagers' which appear in his Pensées, a collection of notes for an unfinished treatise on Christian apologetics. Pascal argues that it is always a better "bet" to believe that God exists, because the expected value to be gained from believing that God exists is always greater than the expected value resulting from non-belief. With his wager he sought to demonstrate that believing in the existence of God is more advantageous than not believing, and hoped that this would convert those who rejected previous theological arguments. Applications of this argument can be found in other religious philosophies, such as Hinduism, and especially Buddhism.

Pascal says that believing in a God that does not exist, is less punishing than rejecting a God that exists.

Here are the possible outcomes Pascal gives us:

Originally Posted by Pascal's outcomes of belief/disbelief

* You may believe in God, and if God exists, you go to heaven: your gain is infinite.
* You may believe in God, and if God doesn't exist, your loss is finite and therefore negligible.
* You may not believe in God, and if God doesn't exist, your gain is finite and therefore negligible.
* You may not believe in God, and if God exists, you will go to hell: your loss is infinite.

Simple game theory would imply a rational being will always choose to believe in God.

Where do you stand from Pascal's analysis ?

[Aounist05]

I guess this is pure logic, and personally I agree. However during a long discussion with atheists, they argue that this is nonsense since the probability of God's existence for them is very close to zero, thus following "God's teaching" is restrictive to them and is not worth it.

[Kasparov]

I am one of the people who "wishes" that God exists, although i believe 90% that he doesnt .

[lebanese_a]

7assab ma fhemete from a catechese teacher, god is too good to let you go to hell so your going to heaven anyways.

hala2 that's my theorie >>> Uno I am sure that a guy that killed an innocent but beleives in god will not be better then an innocent who helped people all his life but didn't beleive in god. get it? so if god is so good he's taking you whether you beleive in him or not.

[Osiris]

Originally Posted by Pascal's outcomes of belief/disbelief

* You may believe in God, and if God exists, you go to heaven: your gain is infinite.
* You may believe in God, and if God doesn't exist, your loss is finite and therefore negligible.
* You may not believe in God, and if God doesn't exist, your gain is finite and therefore negligible.
* You may not believe in God, and if God exists, you will go to hell: your loss is infinite.

Chou, are we gambling here!?
Well, I am almost sure that my "gain is finite and therefore negligible" , I am 99% sure that he is not over there! I really wish I am wrong here, I wish I believe in "God" and all these divine things that I love to learn about... but no, it is really much simpler than all this, we are simply the result of the complex evolution process.. nothing more, nothing less!

Based on all this, my gain is negligible if I am right.. but if not, I would "burn in hell". Therefore, for me there is nothing to gain according to Pascal!

Well, for me, the reason of believing in God should not be: "because it is a better bet"! Being convinced in what you think is the most important thing whether you believe or not!

[DaManInChrist]

Originally Posted by Osiris

Chou, are we gambling here!?
Well, I am almost sure that my "gain is finite and therefore negligible" , I am 99% sure that he is not over there! I really wish I am wrong here, I wish I believe in "God" and all these divine things that I love to learn about...

Well, you are wrong. God exists for sure. And there are no other gods beside Him.

but no, it is really much simpler than all this, we are simply the result of the complex evolution process.. nothing more, nothing less!

This process called "evolution" is more than just complex ... it's impossible.

Based on all this, my gain is negligible if I am right.. but if not, I would "burn in hell". Therefore, for me there is nothing to gain according to Pascal!

Well, God exists regardless of what you believe. And hell is not something that anyone would wish to be in.

Well, for me, the reason of believing in God should not be: "because it is a better bet"! Being convinced in what you think is the most important thing whether you believe or not!

And the alcoholic says to himself that if he is convinced that he's not an alcoholic, then that's the most important thing ...

[Belle]

I do admit that some people think like that, but it's not that simple, there is evidence that god exists, our mere existence is an evidence, mainfa3sh n2ol 3shan some people wanna do so and so to stay on the safe side that doing this in particular is awfully wrong, the matter has more to it be keteer than just that.

[A.s.h.]

I believe god do exist but there is always a room for doubt.

[Fragrance of Roses]

آمن بالحجر تبرأ

To believe or not to believe... is an ever-ending debate that has been going on for centuries... you call this force and energy whatever you want to call it. I call it G.O.D.

Generator - Operator - Destroyer

The ultimate! Beyond the comprehension of the limited mind that is using only a percentage of its ability!

Though I must reluctantly agree with a close friend of mine: IT CAN ALL BE IN THE BRAIN!

[SeekNirvana]

Originally Posted by DaManInChrist

Well, you are wrong. God exists for sure. And there are no other gods beside Him.



This process called "evolution" is more than just complex ... it's impossible.



Well, God exists regardless of what you believe. And hell is not something that anyone would wish to be in.



And the alcoholic says to himself that if he is convinced that he's not an alcoholic, then that's the most important thing ...

... for I have spoken

- "You're wrong, God exists ..."
I'm sure you convinced him/her ... khalas stop

- "Evolution is impossible"
Can we go through this a bit ... I didn't really get it.

- "God exists regardless of what you believe"
Ok, let me try this "God doesn't exist regardless of what you don't believe" ...Does it work?

- "And the alcoholic says to himself that if he is convinced that he's not an alcoholic, then that's the most important thing"
Autostrade sayda is a two way street ...

Break the chains ...