Best one sentence summation of how I feel, ever. - Page 45

Hasbinbad · #**441** 11-10-2013, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pharmakos [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

ultimately, i believe that the only rational religious viewpoint is Agnosticism

i've been saying this shit for years

pharmakos · #**442** 11-10-2013, 09:22 PM

but then there's also Pascal's Wager, which makes a lot of sense

DrKvothe · #**443** 11-11-2013, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pharmakos [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

but then there's also Pascal's Wager, which makes a lot of sense

I refuse to let this thread die.

Pascal's Wager applies to any and all claims of infinite reward with finite risk. Since there is no evidence of Christianity or any other supernatural belief beyond: "You can't prove it's NOT true!" then anything that can't be disproved but that offers infinite reward should be accepted according to Pascal's Wager.

Let's make the reasonable assumption that the powerball jackpot is more money than any one person could reasonably spend in their lifetime. Therefore the monetary reward is essentially infinite, since the marginal effect of increasing the reward is zero. The odds of winning this jackpot are low, but non-zero. Thus Pascal's Wager makes a good case to spend all of your money on lottery tickets.

But we know that the actual chance of winning the lottery is effectively zero. You're just not going to win, even if you blow your life's savings on it. Why? Because while the chance of winning isn't zero, a reasonable, rational person would realize that it pretty much is.

The bible is written like a set of contradicting folk tales for the gullible and uneducated. Even the miraculous parts of Jesus's life, viewed from the outside by a skeptic, seems like horseshit. A woman is found to be pregnant and it's not her husband's, but she convinces him that it must be a miracle? Jesus is supposed to be the salvation of the Jewish people against Roman tyranny, but instead he's killed young before actually accomplishing anything...and somehow him dying IS the accomplishment? He conquers death but immediately leaves the earth behind before a credible source can witness him? The tyranny he was meant to end continues for centuries anyways, even ultimately adopting him as their mascot?

Hasbinbad · #**444** 11-11-2013, 03:09 PM

You cannot argue against prime motivation by disproving this or that detail of abraham-cult folklore.

pharmakos · #**445** 11-11-2013, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrKvothe [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I refuse to let this thread die.

Pascal's Wager applies to any and all claims of infinite reward with finite risk. Since there is no evidence of Christianity or any other supernatural belief beyond: "You can't prove it's NOT true!" then anything that can't be disproved but that offers infinite reward should be accepted according to Pascal's Wager.

Let's make the reasonable assumption that the powerball jackpot is more money than any one person could reasonably spend in their lifetime. Therefore the monetary reward is essentially infinite, since the marginal effect of increasing the reward is zero. The odds of winning this jackpot are low, but non-zero. Thus Pascal's Wager makes a good case to spend all of your money on lottery tickets.

But we know that the actual chance of winning the lottery is effectively zero. You're just not going to win, even if you blow your life's savings on it. Why? Because while the chance of winning isn't zero, a reasonable, rational person would realize that it pretty much is.

The bible is written like a set of contradicting folk tales for the gullible and uneducated. Even the miraculous parts of Jesus's life, viewed from the outside by a skeptic, seems like horseshit. A woman is found to be pregnant and it's not her husband's, but she convinces him that it must be a miracle? Jesus is supposed to be the salvation of the Jewish people against Roman tyranny, but instead he's killed young before actually accomplishing anything...and somehow him dying IS the accomplishment? He conquers death but immediately leaves the earth behind before a credible source can witness him? The tyranny he was meant to end continues for centuries anyways, even ultimately adopting him as their mascot?

Pascal's Wager isn't asking you to spend all your money, though. just a small change of mind.

also, i don't think Pascal was thinking much about the Bible.

DrKvothe · #**446** 11-11-2013, 04:20 PM

Pascal's wager asks for more than money, it asks for faith. That's the cost of placing your bet. The unwavering belief in something without evidence for, and despite all evidence or appeals to logic against that ought to persuade you. Without actual belief, you haven't actually placed your bet.

I've covered the costs of faith in my previous posts.