In a message dated 10/12/00 22:03:40 GMT Standard Time, sejones@iinet.net.au
writes:
<< I would now remind Chris of the consequences of our respective wagers.
If he is right and Christianity is false, then he and I will both die and
never
wake up. Then neither he nor I would have lost anything. Chris is presumably
happy with his life as an atheist and I am very happy with my life as a
Christian.
But if Chris is wrong, and Christianity is true, then both Chris and I will
die
and wake up. But then for Chris, there will be everlasting self-inflicted
torment as he contemplates *eternity* with what might have been. OTOH
for me there will be everlasting happiness.
In this classic version of Pascal's wager between an atheist and a
Christian,
I can't lose anything, but I can gain everything. Chris OTOH cannot gain
anything, but he can lose everything.
>>
Unfortunately this is wrong, because whilst technically correct
"post death" it does not allow for the gains/losses whilst still
alive.
A follower of Islam would write exactly what you write "I cannot
conceive of Islam not being true. I am 99% certain" (this makes
me think you are not actually thinking about it much, just
reinforcing your own belief, something your booklist supports)
and the argument is just as good.
What Pascal's Wager really means is. "I am right. You are wrong.
If you don't believe as I do I think my God will beat you up".
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