Pascal's Wager
1...You live as though God exists.
If God exists, you go to heaven: your gain is infinite.
If God does not exist, you gain nothing and lose nothing.
2...You live as though God does not exist.
If God exists, the text is unspecified, but it could be implied that you go to limbo, purgatory, or hell: your loss is either null or infinite.
If God does not exist, you gain nothing and lose nothing
Put that in you thinking pipe and smoke it bud!
This line of reasoning does not support any specific deity, and is equally weighty making any substitution that you wish.
For example:
1...You live as though Leprechauns exists.
If Leprechauns exists, you can get a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow: your gain is infinite.
If Leprechauns do not exist, you gain nothing and lose nothing.
2...You live as though Leprechauns do not exist.
If Leprechauns exist, they can torment you on your visits to Ireland, and they will never share their gold with the unbelieving likes of you: your loss is measured in pounds and pounds of gold.
If Leprechauns do not exist, you gain nothing and lose nothing.
Is this line of reasoning sufficient for me to start looking in the dells for the “wee people”? Substitute any other mythical creature that has the supposed powers of reward and punishment, Vishnu, Thor, Odin, Jupiter and run it again.
It supports ALL of them equally well, and since many of the named mythical beings are mutually exclusive, by extension, it supports NONE of them.
That’s how it’s smoked in a properly functioning “thinking pipe”.
How about there is a God but he doesn’t like people hedging their bets like Pschal
Yet both reasons imply acts of faith, you make a choice and jump with it.
The only issue I really see with pascal’s reasoning is that the lack of personalized ultimate certainty involved with the first scenario which then in time of stress or persecution, one may find that one’s personal faith(assuming a belief in God but not entirely convinced of his existence) may not have any deep root!
It might be better if one had any doubt at all about HIS existence, to cry out to God from ones GUTS in total honesty about one’s doubts. God has promised his Holy Spirit and his assurance that we are his children, but this assurance is unique to every individual...it cannot be scientifically measured or explained.
Studies of Christ faithful humans how-ever reveal that they have generally healthier lives and marriages and that they deal with sickness,stress and death in a much more productive manner which may give some evidence of the benefits of being a spirit filled believer!