Pascal’s Wager: Let’s Make a Deal!
Non-believers often hear theists use the following argument:
Suppose you are right, and God doesn’t exist. When I die as a believer, I have lost nothing. I will have lived a happy, moral, fulfilling life, and when I die I simply cease to exist. But if you, as a non-believer, are wrong, you have to spend an eternity in hell. See, I have nothing to lose, but you have everything to lose and nothing to gain. Now doesn’t it make more sense to believe in God?
This argument, commonly known as Pascal’s Wager, really amounts to playing it safe. Simpler versions include “What if you’re wrong?” or “Have you thought about what will happen to you after you die?” Essentially, they are all saying the same thing: why not hedge your bets so at least you’ll have a chance of getting into heaven?
