A Flipside to Pascal’s Wager?
If you believe in good and evil, if you believe that your existence has purpose — then you believe in God. So the Christian outcome is not only a reason to believe; if you believe, then the outcome must also be true.
Pascal’s Wager
Entries that relate to Pascal’s wager.
What’s True and What Might Be True
I wonder if a lot of theology shouldn’t be more tentative, given for example the ambiguity of some Scripture to us and the unknowability to us of much of God’s handiwork. Thus, for all we Protestants know Mary could be the “Queen of Heaven,” but no Catholic can know that for sure. And, with many … [Read more…]
If I Were God, How Would I Run the Universe?
I know — very presumptuous, and of course we know that His ways are not our ways. Still, thinking along these lines can be useful: It can show, for example, that some features of the universe and Christian belief are not as counterintuitive (to what we would expect of a God-created Christian universe) as they … [Read more…]
Is “Cultivating Faith” Dishonest?
In my “600 words” essay, I said that Pascal’s wager should lead us to “cultivate one’s faith.” Here are some preliminary thoughts on that, and in particular on whether doing so is somehow dishonest. There are different models that can be followed in truth-seeking, and more than one can be legitimate. For starters, it is … [Read more…]
Pascal’s Wager and the Old Folks
My “600 words” all apply to them, but Pascal’s wager is especially favorable to the old. Consider: (1) As a preliminary matter, they have less excuse to avoid making their choice. (2) The “next life” considerations are stronger for them, since the next life is closer. (3) The “this life” considerations — and this is … [Read more…]
Why I Am a Christian (and You Should Be, Too), in 600 Words
This short essay first appeared on the “Christian Thoughts” BlogSpot. To begin with, it is foolish not to grapple with the question whether there is a God. On His existence hinges what sort of life you should lead. Not having an opinion about or having given serious thought to quantum mechanics is one thing, but … [Read more…]