[Qwinn]

I think the person you're referring to was Pascal, not Descartes.

And it's not even really mathematical. What he said was this.

If you believe in God and he doesn't exist, you were wrong but it doesn't matter.

If you don't believe in God and he doesn't exist, you were right but it doesn't matter.

If you don't believe in God and he does exist, you're in serious trouble.

If you believe in God and he exists, you were right and he'll take care of you.

Therefore, it's all upside and no downside to believing in God.

Personally, I hate it. I'm agnostic, and I would -like- to have faith, but I can't bring myself to practice over logic like this. There's just something very sleazy about the calculated self-interest involved.

Qwinn

[ninenot]

Thanks for the correction. It was a dead Frenchman, anyway.

As to Faith--there are very few who understand the logic of the RC--and the inevitable synthesis flowing therefrom. Faith is given to one--one does not "grow" it on one's own.

Go find a good priest (we can help if necessary) in your area and DO IT!

Then you can post here with just as much angst-ownership as BlackElk, Salvation, Totus, NYer, et al...

[Snuffington]

There's just something very sleazy about the calculated self-interest involved.

A total aside, and admittedly off-topic for the thread, but what is the problem with self-interest in your opinion? Seems rather rational, even without taking it to Objectivist extremes. While finding the wager shallow, I'm not seeing the sleaze.