Wesley Bruce wrote:
In other words* If I believe in God and I am right what do I gain? All the pleasures of eternity. * If I am wrong what do I loose? A few passing pleasures and then oblivion. * If I disbelieve in God and there is life after death and some judgement.
Pascal's argument is based on the notion that belief is voluntary; i.e., we can choose what we believe, and what we do not believe. This is false.
To take a dramatic example, consider a person in her 40s who is dying of an incurable disease. She may want to believe she will survive by some miracle, but if she is educated and understands disease and probability, she will believe with as much certainty as a person can muster that she is doomed. No amount of wishful thinking or desire on her part will affect this belief, or impair her judgement. I have seen many people in this situation, both theists and atheists, including a friend who died last month. They can no more choose to believe one way or the other than I can choose to believe that 2 + 2 = 5. (In some cases the disease, drugs or extreme fear will impair the patient's judgement, but I have never seen this happen.)
Not only is Pascal's argument false, it is contrary to everyday experience, since we all know that we cannot make ourselves think that 2 + 2 = 5, or night is day, or up is down. In my opinion this argument is also preposterous and cruel, since it tries to impose a "guilt trip" on people who cannot bring themselves to believe in fairy tales.
- Jed
