A Return To Pascals Wager

[Jason]

The 7.0s are a hypothetical. Unless you're going to make atheism an active belief (as opposed to a passive disbelief [a-theism - break it down: a (without) theism(theism)]) that god type things don't exist and any and all claims that they do are false.

[cronus]

The 7.0s are a hypothetical. Unless you're going to make atheism an active belief (as opposed to a passive disbelief [a-theism - break it down: a (without) theism(theism)]) that god type things don't exist and any and all claims that they do are false.

A lot of online atheists are willing to argue about the lack of angels on the head of a pin like theists are the presence. You shall know them by the trail of their arguments?

[rainbow]

The 7.0s are a hypothetical. Unless you're going to make atheism an active belief (as opposed to a passive disbelief [a-theism - break it down: a (without) theism(theism)]) that god type things don't exist and any and all claims that they do are false.

A lot of online atheists are willing to argue about the lack of angels on the head of a pin like theists are the presence. You shall know them by the trail of their arguments?

Yes, but are they TRUE atheists, faithful and pure of heart?

[Svartalf]

Pascal wrote that at a time when the Christian god was the only god to the overwhelming majority of people around him. A modern Pascal would have us betting equally on every number on the roulette wheel for every spin. Never mind the cognitive dissonance, that would consume all your time and be extremely costly - a lot of religions involve expensive ceremonies, donations, and things of that sort.

Actually, Pascal never even brushed the possibility that the protestants or muhammedans might have it right... so much for intellectual honesty.

I suspect he lived in dread of death and grasped at any straws, without even noticing his own lame rationalisations.

[rainbow]

Actually, Pascal never even brushed the possibility that the protestants or muhammedans might have it right... so much for intellectual honesty.

I suspect he lived in dread of death and grasped at any straws, without even noticing his own lame rationalisations.

Mebbe he just wanted to go out in a blaise of glory?

[Svartalf]

he just went the wrong way for that, destroyed his own credibility and sullied his not inconsiderable achievements.

[cronus]

he just went the wrong way for that, destroyed his own credibility and sullied his not inconsiderable achievements.

It'd be the last worry on the guys mind with time running out on the sundial. Give him a break for his time in history?

[rainbow]

he just went the wrong way for that, destroyed his own credibility and sullied his not inconsiderable achievements.

It'd be the last worry on the guys mind with time running out on the sundial. Give him a break for his time in history?

I doubt he'd be worried about what people think of him.
...being dead and that.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

But you only actually profit from the wager if you pick the correct god.

Incorrect.

What an insightful and persuasive argument. Where do I sign?

[Collector1337]

But you only actually profit from the wager if you pick the correct god.

Incorrect.

What an insightful and persuasive argument. Where do I sign?

Why do you have to pick the "correct god?"

That implies only 1 out of every religion in the world is "right."

It would then be impossible for a human to know which religion is the "correct" religion.

[Svartalf]

Because most religions, and especially the various monotheist sects are mutually exclusive?

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Why do you have to pick the "correct god?"

That implies only 1 out of every religion in the world is "right."

It would then be impossible for a human to know which religion is the "correct" religion.

Because most religions, and especially the various monotheist sects are mutually exclusive?

Check out the first commandment. Pretty much every major religion has an equivalent. And, within religions, individual sects usually lay claim to even more selective exclusivity.

Of course, there are a few, such as the Bahá'í, that accept that all religions represent imperfect aspects of the same god but they are few and far between among religions. So, unless one of those just happens to be correct, Pascal's wager is only ever an outside chance. And, if there is no god at all, it's a non-starter.

[Collector1337]

You can believe in god without considering yourself part of a specific religion.

Also depending if you believe god exists, that he must also be a punitive god, which isn't necessarily true.

Perhaps if god exists, then he is aware of how influenced by culture humans are, and he would also be aware that religion is more a product of culture, than the belief in the existence of god.

So, if god exists, he's aware that he's the only one, so the specific religion isn't really relevant (because that's a product of human culture), but the belief in his existence is.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

You can believe in god without considering yourself part of a specific religion.

Also depending if you believe god exists, that he must also be a punitive god, which isn't necessarily true.

Perhaps if god exists, then he is aware of how influenced by culture humans are, and he would also be aware that religion is more a product of culture, than the belief in the existence of god.

So, if god exists, he's aware that he's the only one, so the specific religion isn't really relevant (because that's a product of human culture), but the belief in his existence is.

So you say. However, the vast majority of believers in religion in the world would disagree. So why are you right and they are all so wrong? Serious question. Take your time.

[Collector1337]

So you say.

I do.

However, the vast majority of believers in religion in the world would disagree.

Because they are following their culture/religion and what they've been taught to believe... that god is punitive, and other religions are "wrong" so you must follow our religion.

They are simply parroting what they've been taught, so of course they would disagree.

So why are you right and they are all so wrong? Serious question. Take your time.

I, or anyone else cannot know who's "right" and who's "wrong."

When you take a punitive god out of the equation. A god who isn't going to punish you for choosing (and the word "choose" is used loosely because most people don't choose their religion because it is so closely tied to culture, that goes for atheism too) the "wrong" religion.

The "only if you pick the "correct" god" argument only works if god is punitive.

I'm saying that god, who should be all enlightened and such (you know, being god and all) is not punitive.

So, coming back around to the OP, assuming that god isn't punitive, then what's your bet on Pascal's Wager now?