Pascal's Wager - Any Way to Live a Life

I promoted your topic because it seemed interesting, but in order to get the ball rolling, lets clarify exactly what Pascals Wager is, for the peanut gallery! Personally, as a man who has had issues with gambling in the past, I find it ludicrous to "bet" on God. God is not some form of philosophical "gaming"! Of course, some wag will always pipe up and say that it is up to the Theist do establish a positive truth claim to begin with, so the ebtire idea of the wager is itself irrelevant.Jars infamous construct makes more senseParaphrased) IF God exists, she exists despite any and all evidence that says she does not exist.
If God does not exist, He does not exist despite any and all arguments or evidence attempting to prove that It does exist.So what is my conclusion?Forget the Wagers......Either believe or don't.

I may have initially began to believe in God because He made sense to me. I still swear to this day that there was one day that I became aware of a presence which has never left me since that time, even though I don't always feel confirmation via tactile perceptions.I also admit that there was and is a lot of peer pressure within my circle to believe, going to Church and all.I support my belief personally through the behavior of others, the impulses within myself, and my willingness to believe. I think that will to believe is the anchor of it all. Evidence means little to me, because I have had personal experiences that settled the validity of my beliefs in my own mind and heart. For me, none of this is a bet. The decision was settled based on my will. People decide to believe or not. Its as simple as that. You did choose your beliefs. You chose to believe in logic, reason, and evidence.Edited by Phat, : add

Actually you won't find this phrase or anything like it in the Bible.

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Actually you won't find this phrase or anything like it in the Bible.

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What should it tell me? I have always believed that God helps those who trust in Him with all their heart and lean not on their own understanding.I admit that this is exclusivist, however! Perhaps a compromise is in order. Its a bit of both....Faith and Good Works.

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Convictions are very different from intentions. Convictions are something God gives us that we have to do. Intentions are things that we ought to do, but we never follow through with them.
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“The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.”--General Omar Bradley
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Homer Simpson: Sometimes, Marge, you just have to go with your gut!
Marge: You *always* go with your gut! How about for once you listen to your brain?

Doubt is our greatest blessing and greatest curse.Because of it, we never are able to trust God. With it, we continually attempt to grow up.

Actually, I think humans can and do choose what they believe...to some extent. We always prefer to believe things that we understand and have some manner of control over...which is why God is an unpopular option.

The evidence is always subjective. When gathered with other believers, claims may be made that the evidence is objective, but in reality it appears that it is simply people confirming subjective evidence with each other. Communing only with like minded people appears to validate a preponderance of evidence, but in actuality it is a selective bias. This is why I prefer debating/discussing with people who do not believe as i do...since it always challenges me---even if the feeling is uncomfortable. This is a view that many here at EvC have. I suppose as long as one is doing ones best, there is no need for a Creator unless the Creator can help you better achieve your destiny or goal in life.

The whole point is your will. Your decision to believe. Some folks would rather willfully not believe because they are unconvinced that if God existed He cared. (Deaths in family, sicknesses, and unanswered prayers)The very act of asserting your will is in fact your decision. Its normal to be of two minds before the decision to embrace belief.Some folks are angry or hurt and even if God existed they would see no reason to acknowledge Him.