Can't Pascal's Wager be used against theists too? ?

Question

\If, for example, you are a Christian, who believes in the Christian God, isn't there a probability that you are wrong, and that the true God is the God of Islam, which is not triune? Wouldn't Muslims be taking the opposite risk if they deny that Jesus is God? So aren't theists, of any particular religion, risking a lot, and wouldn't all of them be risking damnation as much as any atheist would be? Anytime you affirm the belief in a SPECIFIC type of God, you are always taking a chance in offending another God that might actually exist, and therefore you could be risking damnation.

Answer 1

Every-time a christian uses Pascal's wager it is being used against them . I really think it is their favorite form of self abuse .

Pascal was an idiot savant .

Answer 2

the answer is a complete yes,  the christian does risk damnation

the subject of eternity is very important

the best we can do, and i'm being serious now, is to look for something that unique to the quality that God would have,  and something that is alien to mankind

in Christianity, we have a God who died for sinners, we have a God who says your best is not good enough, but i will give you my best

in islam and other religions, we don't have that.

excellant question,  a star for you

Answer 3

Yes, you could.  Do some research on Pascal.  He wrote that around the time of the Inquisition.  At that time it certainly made sense.

Answer 4

If you have truly "found" God, you don't have a fear of any other so-called god.

Answer 5

Of course I'm risking damnation.

But since, as a Christian, I believe all other Gods don't exist, it really doesn't matter.

Answer 6

Precisely.

Also, the simple belief in God is a wager as well.  When a person chooses to believe something that cannot be proven, the idea of Pascal's Wager is hardly enough to offset the balance of the risk.  Just because we're safer believing in God rather than not (if there indeed turns out to be a God) is not a good enough reason.

Where I come from, we have a thing called being brave.  If you're choosing to assume a faith because you're worried about what might happen if there IS a God, I just hope I never have to depend on you in any other stressful situation.

Life is stressful, enjoy it anyways.

Answer 7

The idiot's wager is "faith". Nonetheless there is no "other" god to offend.  

Answer 8

i personally never liked the theory of pascals wager. i don't' think religion is a game or a strategy. either you believe on faith and what you feel in your heart or you don't believe. and your argument just proves how silly pascals gambit is... so good point. good question.

(and i think the avatar is cool too.)

Answer 9

That is the risk of dedicating your life to one tyrannical being.. you might have picked the wrong absentee.

Answer 10

Of course it can.  That's one of its problems, that logically you can't claim it applies to only one god out of the thousands upon thousands that humanity has worshiped over time.

Answer 11

Pascal's wager doesn't work. For anybody.

Pascal was a genius when it came to hydraulics and geometry. Philosophy, not so much.

Answer 12

Pascal is an idiot.  

Answer 13

Indeed, it's also possible that a hypothetical god would want people to use their hypothetical-god-given critical thinking skills, even if that meant coming to the conclusion that there was no god - perhaps God rewards -only- atheists!

Such an assumption is not really valid, but then it's also no less valid than any other assumption of what God rewards.

Answer 14

pascals wager is a fallacy that assumes only two possible truths when actuality is  one can be right, or both wrong or an infinite other possible options, so it can work with any two religions/beliefs

Answer 15

what is everybody is wrong and we are aliens

now that would be nice

Answer 16

The only God we need concern ourselves with is our Creator.  The fundamental question is whether we will seek our Creator or not.  I don't think that He is asking us to pick a religion, He is asking us to seek Him.

We seek our Creator because we have this idea of the love He (if He exists) must have for us.  I think all He asks is that we honestly seek Him.  A good and loving God would forgive honest ignorance and honest error.  And we have good reason to think that our Creator (if He exists) is good.

Is your argument here an honest one or is it a cleverly designed rationalization for not seeking your Creator?  It is none of my business.

Answer 17

Obviously you've never been around a drunk theist. lol I saw one know everyone into the baptismal while his wife was being baptized. It was in the floor like a small pool. We heard a loud whooppeee! kersplash! In he went, my cousin and a few others. Hilarious.

Answer 18

Absolutely, and I have posted the argument several times in this forum -- in the following form: "I am God, and for reasons of My own, I have chosen to hide all evidence of My existence from mankind.  All those who properly apply logic to evidence to doubt My existence shall be rewarded with paradise, but those who suppose that I exist, without any evidence to support such a supposition, have corrupted the intelligence which I have given them, and shall be consigned to the fire."

Answer 19

Of course. It's a flawed "wager" and EVERYBODY knows it by now.  At least I thought everybody did.

BTW, I really, really can't take looking at any more Che Guevara images like the one in your avatar. I just can't take it anymore. There's just no way I can take anyone seriously who uses the image of that murdering communist for the ten billionth time.

Answer 20

Or what if there is no god and theistic tendencies are actually some of the worst things we could subject ourselves to... like... suppressing free thinking... leading lives full of guilt and shame... and not making the most of this life, because theists generally believe this life is merely the beginning, and that its an evil and terrible place.

Religion wastes life... instead we should be cherishing our lives and trying to make future generations' lives better!

Answer 21

1.  Pascal's Wager is based on the belief that what one does with a religion makes him/her a better person whether there is a god or not.  

2.  The point (with any god) is that you ought to be a better person.

3.  If any god strikes you (or damns you) for trying, that god is not worthy of worship.  I'd rather be damned than serve that god.