Pascal's Wager

I am shore it will be an enlightening debate. Basics of Pascal's Wager: " Even if the existence of God could not be determined through reason, a rational person should wager as though God exists, because living life accordingly has everything to gain, and nothing to lose. " [1] Logic of the wager: 1. "God is, or He is not" 2. A Game is being played. .. Where heads or tails will turn up. 3. According to reason, you can defend neither of the propositions. 4. You must wager. It is not optional. 5. Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is. Let us estimate these two chances. If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. 6. Wager, then, without hesitation that He is. (. .. ) There is here an infinity of an infinitely happy life to gain, a chance of gain against a finite number of chances of loss, and what you stake is finite. And so our proposition is of infinite force, when there is the finite to stake in a game where there are equal risks of gain and of loss, and the infinite to gain. [2] Common misunderstandings of Pascal's wager: 1)doesn't prove gods existence: 1a)doesn't intend to prove gods existence it is an imperative to worship god even without being certain. 2)Religion does have negative consequences such as war: a1)Pascals wager discusses whether the individual should worship god. If the reason the idividual doesnt want to worship god is bec. Of religious wars, so don't get involved in religious wars. a2)It is not obvious that religion causes war. As psychology tells us man is by nature aggressive. War is something that is part of human nature. Religion is often blamed for war when it is often not the cause but an excuse. Lets take some examples of major wars. All major American wars, civil war, ww1, ww2, were those religion based? a3)religion preaches peace it would be logical that this would stem humans violent nature rather than increase it. a4) ∞ - # = ∞ 3)other options: Even if you worship god it doesn't tell you which one. a1) Indeed it doesn't. Pascal's wager tells the non believer to serve god. The atheist responds "well which one? Since I don't know which one I will serve none. " This is analogous to a person who has been convinced it is better to go to university then not to do so, but doesn't go bec. "Which one? ". The obvious answer is try to figure it out. Pascal's wager is an imperative to serve god the fact that you don't know how is not reason not to serve him. It is reason to try to find out how. a2)All god expects of us is that we do our best. a3)As with anything in life when we are uncertain we do the best we can. The fact that you are unsure of the answer to a question does not mean you shouldn't ans. Do the best you can. a4)Pascal's wager is an imperative to constantly ask god for direction of how to serve him. This is the only way of worshiping him until you find an answer. a5) (∞ / any #) > (any #) 4)insincere: a1) So? Even if it is, It's certainly better than nothing. a2) It is not insincere since you are doing the best you can. a3) According to at least some religions it is through service even with insincere motives that one comes sincere service. [1] and [2] . http://en.wikipedia.org...'s_Wager