Entries that relate to Pascal’s wager.
Here’s an obvious but important asymmetry that occurred to me when I was reading Mary C. Neal’s 7 Lessons from Heaven about her near-death experience. In the book, she discusses not only her own visit to Heaven, where she met Jesus, and the effect it had on her life, but also the similar experiences of many other people. … [Read more…]
There can be both selfish and unselfish reasons for wanting to be good and wanting to be godly. They are not inconsistent and may not even be that distinct. *** Faith and love can both be cultivated. Whether we’re considering when they’re beginning or when they’re already extant, it’s romantic but foolish to think otherwise. … [Read more…]
It seems to me that Pascal’s Wager is greatly underutilized and ought to be used more aggressively in evangelism. Brief review: Pascal’s Wager argues that, because the costs of incorrectly choosing not to believe in God if He turns out to exist (namely, eternal damnation instead of eternal and joyful life) are so much greater … [Read more…]
There are about forty excerpts from a Who’s Who of Christian theologians (Luther, Calvin, St. Thomas, Wesley, C.S. Lewis, etc.). Needless to say, there is some good stuff in here; there’s also a biography, bibliography, and questions for each. Note: I did not read the whole book (my notes don’t say why). I read the … [Read more…]
This close reading of Mark is very good, though it drags a bit toward the end. The author says C.S. Lewis is his “favorite author”; he cites N.T. Wright, too. And he says that a key way to cultivate faith is to pray for if (cf. 56). “And straightway the father of the child cried … [Read more…]
Just to add a bit to what I wrote re Vintage Muggeridge elsewhere on this site: Muggeridge notes (49) that it’s hard to argue that Jesus would be big on “social justice” political reform when he deliberately refused to get involved in any secular government issues. He is, as I noted, a big fan of … [Read more…]
I’m a Muggeridge fan, and I’ll begin by noting that he endorses Pascal’s wager (31; see also 41, 64-65, 74-75, 92, 111, 150, 120). But to show I’m evenhanded: The chapter “The Bible Today” is, I think, unduly dismissive of the importance of the historicity of the Bible, seeming to suggest that human truth is … [Read more…]
This biography is short and straightforward but not dumbed down. The author is an emeritus professor of history at Notre Dame. I have to admit that, while I am a great fan of Pascal’s, after reading this biography of him I feel no need to read a more detailed one. Pascal was indeed a remarkable … [Read more…]
The question of predestination is one of an intricacy disproportionate to its interest, to paraphrase Chief Justice John Marshall, or at least its relevance to us on earth in leading our lives (interesting phrase, by the way: leading a life instead of, say, living it). What I mean is that we cannot be so sure … [Read more…]
I’ve noted elsewhere on this site (see especially “Why I Am a Christian (and You Should Be, Too), in 600 Words”) my take on Pascal’s Wager as pressing Christians to cultivate the faith they choose to declare. That is, one doesn’t just say, okay, I believe, and then forget about it; one must act accordingly … [Read more…]