Sunday, July 12, 2015

My special take on Pascal's Wager

It is likely that you have heard some version of Pascal's wager:
(1) It is possible that the Christian God exists and it is possible that the Christian God does not exist.

(2) If one believes in the Christian God then if he exists then one receives an infinitely great reward and if he does not exist then one loses little or nothing.

(3) If one does not believe in the Christian God then if he exists then one receives an infinitely great punishment and if he does not exist then one gains little or nothing.

(4) It is better to either receive an infinitely great reward or lose little or nothing than it is to either receive an infinitely great punishment or gain little or nothing. Therefore:

(5) It is better to believe in the Christian God than it is not to believe in the Christian God.

(6) If one course of action is better than another then it is rational to follow that course of action and irrational to follow the other. Therefore:

(7) It is rational to believe in the Christian God and irrational not to believe in the Christian God.

While many people have refuted Pascal's wager, here is my take:
My religion offers a 110% afterlife guarantee. Bring in the description of the afterlife from any other religion, and the Great Goddess Bhuhl'Schyttah will offer you a Heaven that is 110% as heavenly and a Hell that is 110% as hellish. It is therefore irrational not to follow the religion of the Great Goddess Bhuhl'Schyttah.

No comments: