I'm Betting on Pascal

During the Dennett-D'Souza debate the other night, D'Souza used the following argument to refute Dennett and convince the audience to believe in God.

::drumroll:: Pascal's Wager ::cymbal crash::

I have a confession. I found this completely convincing. Dennett just blew the argument off, but I was floored by it.

Unfortunately, my conversion was not entirely smooth....

I had three problems:

First, the very next day I ran into a Hindu friend of mine. I breathlessly told him about my conversion. He shook his head. "Buddy" he told me "I'm afraid you have made the wrong choice. Of course Pascal's Wager makes sense, but only if you live a Hindu lifestyle. Otherwise upon reincarnation you will only be farther away from unity with Brahman."

This upset me a little, as I didn't want to bet on the wrong God. I eventually decided that this is America buddy, and the real God (in this country at least) is the Christian God. Besides, Pascal's Wager probably still works as long as you believe in some generic version of God.

My second problem actually started when I spoke with my Hindu friend, but it became worse as I told more people about my conversion. Each time I told someone that I now believed in God's existence, my conscience whispered that I didn't. This bothered me. Of course I started off not believing in God, but since that point I told my mind to believe.

I didn't understand why I couldn't force myself to believe. After all, Winston Smith could do it. I had to resign myself to the hope that attempted belief would be good enough for God.

My third problem occurred shortly after I died.

Yes, my friends, I died. But it was really no big deal because I had accepted Pascal's Wager. I shortly found myself before God. (The Christian version, luckily.) I proudly proclaimed my sincerely attempted belief to him. He looked at me sadly, and then spoke:

My Son. The Bible told you that I wanted you to believe in me, but your belief in the Bible came after you accepted Pascal's Wager. When you accepted that wager and the Bible, you overlooked another option.

The intelligence of humans is what sets you apart from the animals. It is the secret of your free will, and it is tied to the divine spark within all of you.

My Son. I did not want your belief. I wanted you to fulfill your potential. I wanted you to use your gift - your mind - and follow it where it led you.

My Son. You have disappointed me.

And he cast me out! The jerk cast me out! (I could hear Russell laughing as I fell.) And I sit here in the fiery pit, cursing my stupid choice, and writing this post as a warning to you.

Miss you in hell, wish you were here,
(You could hang out with my new friend, Pascal),
Titan