If you believe in God and He exists, then you win everything; if He doesn't and you're wrong, you lose nothing. So why not believe in God?

Question

If you don't believe in Him, and He exists, you lose everything; if He doesn't and you're right, you lose nothing but don't win anything either.

This is Pascal's Wager. It isn't proof for the existence of God, but it can help in the search for God in the absence of any proof. As originally proposed by Pascal, the Wager assumes that logical reasoning by itself cannot decide for or against the existence of God; there seem to be good reasons on both sides. Now since reason cannot decide for sure, and since the question is of such importance that we must decide somehow, then we must "wager" if we cannot prove. And so we are asked: Where are you going to place your bet? If you place it with God, you lose nothing, even if it turns out that God does not exist. But if you place it against God, and you are wrong and God does exist, you lose everything: God, eternity, heaven, infinite gain. "Let us assess the two cases: if you win, you win everything, if you lose, you lose nothing."

The vertical lines represent correct beliefs, the diagonals represent incorrect beliefs. Let us compare the diagonals. Suppose God does not exist and I believe in him. In that case, what awaits me after death is not eternal life but, most likely, eternal nonexistence. But now take the other diagonal: God, my Creator and the source of all good, does exist; but I do not believe in him. He offers me his love and his life, and I reject it. There are answers to my greatest questions, there is fulfillment of my deepest desires; but I decide to spurn it all. In that case, I lose (or at least seriously risk losing) everything.

The Wager can seem offensively venal and purely selfish. But it can be reformulated to appeal to a higher moral motive: If there is a God of infinite goodness, and he justly deserves my allegiance and faith, I risk doing the greatest injustice by not acknowledging him.

MCheetah · Accepted Answer

Because 1. He is created as an idea from human beings thousands of years ago by primitive men and doesn't fit into reality.

2. EVERYTHING about Him is petty and assholish (given He was an idea from primitive men). "Don't rape" isn't one of the Ten Commandments, but half of them are all about Him. He comes off like a moody insecure teenager. Like those old Darkmatter2525 videos from 2010 YouTube during the smug atheist days.

3. If God DOES 100% exist, then humans have corrupted His image so badly, what we know about Him/Her/It is no longer even the same being anymore.

4. Most human beings alive barely even know themselves. Why the HELL would we assume they know anything about the origins of the universe itself. We're not even a Level 1 Civilization (advanced enough to control the weather and master our own planet). As far as species goes, we're barely bratty arrogant teenagers; smart enough to know we're here, but not smart enough to be wise. So no, I seriously doubt Yahweh is the ultimate creator.

5. Speaking as an Agnostic-athiest, I believe what created the universe is unknowable, but also irrelevant. Just like the supposed "meaning of life." It has no meaning, which means "it means whatever we want it to." It's why human beings think their individual lives are so precious despite like 99% of people being objectively useless, mediocre, and easily replaceable ("average"), but don't afford the same luxury to the millions of cows, chickens, and pigs we eat every year. How is that fair? Why do human beings matter more than cows? Cows do more for us (as food and dairy) than we do for the planet (as parasites). And no; I'm not like that scientist chick from "Godzilla: King of the Monsters;" I'm just merely pointing out facts. And the fact is, human beings are an incredibly narcissistic species. So much so, they modeled the creator of ALL LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE after themselves! That means, Yahweh has the ugly ears humans have and big stupid noses and weird lines of hair above the eyes. Does that also mean God has a dick? How big is God's dick? Does he use it to pee? Is God even male? Why wouldn't he be female? They are the ones who birth life? Wouldn't that logically make more sense? How can God be infallible if He made us, and we're such a mistake?

Do you see? Humans can't even come up with logical answers to these questions. The idea of Yahweh makes no sense, especially given the idiot species that came up with it. The version of God in Pokèmon, Arceus, makes more sense as a creator diety than Yahweh does. And Arceus is a llama.

hellionthesagereborn · Accepted Answer

Well one, the bible says its wrong to commit lip service i. e. proclaim belief where none exists. So by this argument I would still lose.

Second, belief or disbelief has nothing to do with truth, I cannot verify that god exists so I will not claim he does because to me the truth matters.

Third, if their is a god and he created this world this way and he created all of the circumstances necessary to doubt his own existence only to punish you for eternity for doing so, that is not a benevolent god so he shouldn't be worshipped to begin with but reviled.

Fourth, if god is benevolent then my actions matter far more then my faith so if I do good and he does exist he would reward that not punish me because I didn't do it in his name. If he doesn't exist, then I have still done good so my lack of faith is irrelevant to the good I have done.

So their is absolutely no reason why I should claim to believe something simply because some one is trying to guilt me into it or bribe me into it, I believe that which I can verify as true because the truth matters to me more then the approval of others.

sensible27 · Answer

I didn't read the whole thing but this is Pascal's wager. Suppose a burglar or a random person on the street comes to you and says I'm god I really need a penny right now, you don't lose much but would you consider the possibility? If so would you consider it everyday? What if the argument was shifted to you have to gove everything and in return you get everything and unlimited time in heaven. Since the later deal is so good when compared assumingly insignificant earthly resources. You could argue that even given everything you value becomes reasonable. This relies pn faith instead of practical measurements and ideas.

And yes you lose time and rationality in believing in a thing or entity that we don't have evidence of. Might as well believe in unicorns since there is nothing to lose.

Anonymous · Answer

It isn't simply a matter of believing in God, but Rather Believing God. If you read Genesis and Revelation and believe God you'll see the need for Jesus. With God comes Accountability and personal responsibility, two things the world hates. People are short sighted due to their own evil that they'd rather "enjoy" doing evil (waste) this life than consider what follows. Acknowledging God cause you to consider your actions and where you stand.

Romans 3:23
23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 10:12 - 14
12, For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him, 13, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14, How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?

genericname85 · Answer

the assertion that i "don't lose anything by believing in god" is a lie.

because i have to give up gency about my decisions. in return, i am forced to adapt to morals that i do not agree with. so in essence i have to drastically alter the life that i know i have, cause i am currently living it. for what? for the off chance that i "may not end up in hell after life that nobody could ever confirm to exist in the first place"? no. and even if we assume hell exists, who said i followed the right god and not the wrong one so i end up in hell either way, cause the actually correct god hates me for having followed the wrong one.

so i lose quite a lot by following a believe. and what do i get for that? nothing.

crmoore · Answer

Because belief isn't a choice, it's an automatic process. You can tell me 2 2 = 6 and I can't choose to believe you, my brain will process that information and come to a conclusion regardless of what I try to "choose" to believe. My brain will believe what you're saying is incorrect.

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Pascal's Wager doesn't mean anything.

Anyone can believe God exists as its obvious to tell through creation unless they willfully desire to be delusional.

Believing God exists doesn't grant you escape from His wrath in hell fire which is reserved for His enemies.

Only through repentance and the blood of Jesus Christ is atonement acceptable before God.

Any other bull-jive mumbo jumbo religion or spiritual beliefs apart from the gospel will lead you right into hell.

Archerer · Answer

"It can help in the search for God in the absence of any proof" pretty much all you need to know that this is a useless thought experiment.

ChiTown33 · Answer

Arrogance. The inability of man to admit he does not have full control. It's man's ultimate vanity.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Yes, I believe in God

If you believe in God and He exists, then you win everything; if He doesn't and you're wrong, you lose nothing. So why not believe in God?

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If you believe in God and He exists, then you win everything; if He doesn't and you're wrong, you lose nothing. So why not believe in God?

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