Religious Probability Scenario- Whom?

[thealmighty]

Stupid cryptic sounding title, but after a funeral I went to yesterday where I saw some things, blah, blah...

There is/was a paper/posit/speech/whatever by someone famous (or that's how I remember it, anyway) on how it is better to believe in God than not because there are 4 possibilities and 3 are better if you believe:

no God, believe
no God, don't believe
yes God, believe
yes God, don't believe
3 of the 4, it is a good outcome to believe, etc... I don't have time for the rest. If you have heard it, you know what I mean.

Anyone know who/where this came from?

[MalcPow]

What about all those possibilities where you're believing in the wrong God?

[QuikSand]

Blaise Pascal, most notably.

wiki link (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/pascal's+wager)

[John Galt]

What about all those possibilities where you're believing in the wrong God?

There are so many things wrong with Pascal's gambit that it is almost impossible to know where to start.

[thealmighty]

Blaise Pascal, most notably.

wiki link (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/pascal's+wager)
Perfect. Thanks, QS.

[thealmighty]

...and I didn't ask about the positives/negatives of the gambit, just where it originated.



Feel free to discuss, though, if you feel like it.

[Mac Howard]

There are so many things wrong with Pascal's gambit that it is almost impossible to know where to start.

And you can remove the terms "'s gambit" and it still remains accurate :)

[st.cronin]

I stated this once before, but while Pascal is associated with this theory, the passage in question is actually a very effective DISMISSAL of this 'gambit.' For somebody who makes use of this sort of table to argue in favor of the religious life, you have to look at William James, I think.

[AlexB]

deleted

[Raiders Army]

Just something funny about this thread being started by "thealmighty"

[Dutch]

"I don't know if there is a God or not, but I pray every god-damned day....just in case." - Chris Rock.