Pascals Wager Read Ch 6 p 48 from
- Slides: 8
Pascal’s Wager Read Ch. 6 (p. 48) from the Fundamentals of Faith Possible side effects: may defeat agnosticism and encourage atheists to avoid Las Vegas. Warning: do not use the wager while operating any motorized vehicles.
The Wager Today: • “Most philosophers think it is the weakest of all arguments for believing in the existence of God. ” • It’s a matter of betting “even if you have no certainty, no proof, no guarantee that your bet will win. ”
The Wager in the time it was proposed: • Pascal believed he had a strong argument • He was living in a very skeptical world. • He was offering a “low ladder” which he knew was low, yet nevertheless, had “tremendous force” • Why is it a “low ladder”? – “If you believe in God only as a bet, that is certainly not a deep, mature, or adequate faith. ” • But it is a start!
“Either God is, or he is not. ” • Refutation of agnosticism: – Agnosticism proposes not knowing and therefore maintaining a skeptical position, and not committing to an answer as the most reasonable option. – “The right thing is not to wager at all. ” • Pascal: Life demands that we wager, or rather, death demands that we wager. – We know that we’re alive and we know life ends. The question of God is a question that answers “what happens next? ” – Sorry we didn’t get to choose whether or not to live, but not making a choice now is impossible. To not make a choice is to make a choice.
Now for the atheists… • Atheism is a bad bet because you can’t win. – Betting there is no God and being right causes you to gain nothing and lose nothing. – Betting there is a God and being right allows you the chance to gain everything or to lose nothing. – Betting there is no God and being wrong causes you to gain nothing and lose everything. – Betting there is a God and being wrong causes you to gain nothing and lose nothing.
Go Big! • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=B_2 f 09 j-29 g&list=PL-Kx. Vi. LFUd. Bi. Ay 9 oj. Dc 2_BHmksos. Lpw 5&index=6
Is it selfish? • Justice can be substituted instead of the motive of seeking happiness. • Still the same chances of success. • If you want to believe but can’t… – Fake it ‘til you make it! – How do you think I’m allowed to teach? – “Living the faith can be a way of getting the faith”Kreeft
• https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=o. XXGv 2 V-JD 8&feature=youtu. be
