Pascal states, like JesusDied, that it is better to have faith in God and live a moral life than not to. If indeed there is no God, we would not have wasted our lives. We would have lived them in good morality, compassion and loyalty. We would have lived a good life, a great life. We have nothing to lose. If we choose not to have faith and believe in God, then, if indeed there is a God, we would risk losing eternal life in Heaven. A 50/50 shot. One way supposes you can't lose, the other has a risk. I say, what a beautiful risk it is. In fact, not a risk at all. If one pursues knowledge, self-knowledge, understanding, spirituality and experience through the questioning mind and soul, I say, go for it! Surely, one will at least begin to understand this mysterious world by exploring it. Surely one may have spirituality without faith in a "higher power". You may live, you my love, you may grow as a human being in all aspects of that condition. And if this life is it, so be it! If there is more, so be it!
It's not a 50/50 shot. You guys aren't the only religion with an afterlife, you know. People that live in the christianity fishbowl are annoying, they have no ability to see life from another perspective. You are talking to people here who don't believe in god. Where did you get the idea we think christianity is the only option outside atheism?
I didn't. I frankly think the 50/50 thing is silly. There are infinite relative perspectives on life and the afterlife, and I'm saying you don't need to believe the Christian one to live life to the fullest, etc.
Exactly. It's about time laws were placed to stop religious persecution by christians..........their prejudice and arrogance are both outdated and highly insulting. And the scary thing is, they've been getting away with it for over 2000 yrs
The original post is merely a response to Pascal's Wager. I disagree with it as well. Christians may not be ignorant to the existence of other religions, but they certainly don't accept them as possible ways to truth, happiness, afterlife, etc. To them, there is heaven and hell (and in Catholic belief there is also Purgatory).
If I am able accept people for who they are, regardless of when they started having sex, or what music they listen to, or TV shows they watch, or how often they do or don't go to church, or if they even know me personally, then certainly some magnificant being that created us to be who we are can accept us for who we are. Just because someone disagrees with me, has a different perspective than me, or doesn't even know I exist doesn't mean I think they deserve to be tortured eternally. I just can't believe that any creator would punish his creations for being what he knew they were going to be when he created them. Does that make sense, it was wordy...
It makes sense......God obviously needs souls to be tortured as well as reside in paradise.....presumably he has a reason for this.....or mebbe its for his own gratification.....either way it means he deserves no respect, no matter how terrible his threats are.
Burn, my post was not aimed at you directly...i had no intention of shooting the messenger, my apologies if it seemed so
Why not live instead as a benevolent atheist who has a full, happy life, and dies in his sleep at the age of 95? Why must there be exactly the two alternatives that Pascal presents?
I was taught (and encouraged to use) Pascal's Wager in Baptist school. I thought it was ridiculous. I remember thinking: What's next, are we gonna start giving out food processors to those who join in the next 24-hours?
beautifully said, burn! i agree 100%... i've heard pascal's wager come out of countless christian mouths, though usually by mistake; they turn a little pink-cheeked afterwards, realizing, i think, that a deal wager is not anything noble. lol pascal's wager is a load of rubbish yet i definitely think that the majority of the faithful remain so for its reasoning. pooh!!! the wager is for the weak, and those without self-dignity, and those without respect for curiousity and true knowledge, and for humanity in general. in case you can't tell, people who would wager truth make me want to punch them, or smoke crack. ... love,
