belief in god? try pascal’s wager
blaise pascal, the 17th century mathematician was first a gambler before becoming a devout christian. responsible for founding probability theory, PASCAL worked out a way to determine the monetary value on a certain gamble based solely on PROBABILITIES. Pascal brought this idea of gambling into his relationship with god. he concluded that choosing whether or not to believe in god was like a gamble— it’s betting on the proposition that god exists. if he does exist, then the consequences of believing in him are eternal glory— a marvelous afterlife. On the other side, if god doesn’t exist then the consequences of believing in him are, at worst, living a VIRTUOUS life guided by the IDEA of god— for himself, he concluded that the gamble on believing in god was worth significantly more than the gamble of remaining an agnostic.
this was an idea i had adopted long before i learned about blaise pascal— so when i first found out about the dude, i was real stoked. there are only a few figures in history who i’ve celebrated in the same manner— guys who had such firm beliefs which i’ve shared— jack kerouac and adam smith are two that come to mind. though i enjoy my diverse set of friends, it’s always a relief to meet somebody who shares a certain sentiment right to the core— i’ve found the strongest bond with those who i agree with fundamentally. it provides a sturdy foundation built on principles in which a real RELATIONSHIP can flourish— and i think a shared belief in a higher power might be one of those things.
I THINK IT WOULD BE ARROGANT TO SPEAK WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY ON THE MATTER of god— FOR ME, I LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE UTILITY THAT THE IDEA HAS BROUGHT PEOPLE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. WITH THAT taken into account, I try to live my life as if he EXISTS. PUBLICLY DECLARING MY MORAL SUPERIORITY OFF MY BELIEF IN A HIGHER POWER IS NO BETTER THAN THOSE WHO UTILIZE FUNDAMENTAL SOCIAL CHANGE TO DECLARE THEIR MORAL SUPERIORITY. you can play that game, but i’ll sit it out— my belief in the man is real personal.
the evidence that leads me to his belief requires me telling you a few instances in which i felt him— times when i was down, times of absolute horror, and times of genuine happiness— but all those stories are personal and it’s getting very late.
take a gamble on god, seriously analyze your beliefs, and understand the utility that faith has provided mankind since the dawn of time— and maybe one day, i’ll tell you all about him.
