Pascal's Wager

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how Pascal makes the argument that belief in the existence of God puts the believer in a more desirable situation at death than that of the non-believer. It looks at how he bases his reasoning upon the possible rewards and losses of belief in God, compared to the rewards and losses of non-belief. It also explores how Pascal's God is the Judeo-Christian God and how the rules of faith for him are contained in the Bible. It attempts to show how Pascal provides a way for the skeptic to come to God through his 'Wager'.

From the Paper:

"Societies must agree upon an objective idea of morality to exist without anarchy. Consider the rewards given to the believer. According to Scripture, heaven awaits those who come to God through Jesus. One's sins and transgressions are washed clean and one experiences reunification with one's creator, but only if one believes in God. An eternity in the Kingdom, free from need or want is the prize. If God does not exist, the believer suffers no loss. Nothing comes after death. If there is no God, then when one dies one simply ceases to be. One cannot remember being alive prior to one's own existence, so non-existence after death would be the same thing. The only logical choice, then, is to believe in God. One gains everything or loses nothing depending upon the existence or non-existence of God.

More papers on Pascal's Wager:

• Essay # 62745 : "Pascal's Wager"
• Essay # 6604 : "Reasoning Concerning Pascal's Wager"
• Analytical Essay # 97813 : "Wager for Skeptics"

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