nse fails to satisfy the question. How is one to know that the way others behave is the proper way to act? Are actions right because the majority practice them? Should it apply to you simple because it applies to almost everyone else? No matter how you decide to act, it still remains that your belief is a product of habitual actions, whether they are your own or based on someone else’s. Your only motivation for holding to that belief would still be based on selfish gains.There are some points that Pascal does not touch but I feel are relevant to the discussion when choosing to believe in God. It can be implied based on Pascal’s benefit/consequence set up that he is referring to the Christian god. According to the Christian scriptures it takes a lot more than belief and habitual actions to earn the infinite happiness promised to those who believe. Pascal failed to take into account the trials and tribulation that come with choosing to follow God. It is mentioned in the Christian text that those who follow will be tempted to act against the word of God, but we are taught to resist at all costs, temptation (for example, James 1:12 or I Corinthians 10:13) . How can a person who acts purely off of habit with no real foundation for his beliefs other than selfish gains resist these temptations? At the first sign of adversity, a person who is basing his belief on the Pascal wager will surely fold under pressure. It’s a good thing that Christianity is based on forgiveness and repentance. The second part of my thesis states that without some kind of evidence that we cannot make a rational decision about God’s existence. This goes back to the sincerity of a belief mentioned before. The main problem with Pascal’s Wager is that it gives true solid foundation for one’s belief outside of selfish gains. If you are going to evaluate and reevaluate that belief against selfish gains, then you will only ...
