There are too many ungrounded assumptions in Pascal’s Wager. Firstly, one must believe there is a God [who must be believed in]. Secondly, one must believe that this God is almighty and good [in rewarding]. Thirdly, one must believe that one will ‘gain all’ if this God is believed in.
…that there are thousands… born into suffering and dying everyday due to disease and war, there cannot be an almighty and good creator God – because there is nothing good about endlessly ‘creating’ beings to suffer. If there is indeed a creator God, this God is almighty in a most evil way instead.
Pascal’s Wager (simplified):
‘If you believe in God and God does exist,
you will be rewarded with eternal life in heaven; thus an infinite gain.
If you do not believe in God and God does exist,
you will be condemned to remain in hell forever; thus an infinite loss.
If you believe in God and God does not exist,
you will not be rewarded; thus a finite loss.
If you do not believe in God and God does not exist,
you will not be rewarded, but you have lived your own life; thus a finite gain.’
Pastafarianism’s Wager (why not?):
‘If you believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) and FSM does exist,
you will be rewarded with eternal life in heaven; thus an infinite gain.
If you do not believe in FSM and FSM does exist,
you will be condemned to remain in hell forever; thus an infinite loss.
If you believe in FSM and FSM does not exist,
you will not be rewarded; thus a finite loss.
If you do not believe in FSM and FSM does not exist,
you will not be rewarded, but you have lived your own life; thus a finite gain.’
Whoever’s Wager (or whatever):
‘If you believe in the Whoever and Whoever does exist,
you will be rewarded with eternal life in heaven; thus an infinite gain.
If you do not believe in Whoever and Whoever does exist,
you will be condemned to remain in hell forever; thus an infinite loss.
If you believe in Whoever and Whoever does not exist,
you will not be rewarded; thus a finite loss.
If you do not believe in Whoever and Whoever does not exist,
you will not be rewarded, but you have lived your own life; thus a finite gain.’
Barker’s Wager (paraphrased):
‘Suppose there is a god,
but he is only going to reward those who have enough courage not to believe in him.
This god is no less likely than Pascal’s.
By believing in a god, you are risking eternal torture!
When you die, they might be very surprised.’
(I hope you see the pointlessness of Pascal’s Wager.)
Note:
Buddhists believe there are many gods,
some of whom mistaken themselves to be almighty creators,
who mistaken themselves to have eternal life in some heavens,
who mistaken themselves to be able to grant eternal life,
who are unable to condemn anyone to eternal hell.
To believe in such gods is to be deluded, to stray further from enlightenment.
To not take refuge in such gods is to be wise, to advance further towards enlightenment.
Related Articles:
Is It Safer to Believe in God?
https://moonpointer.com/new/
https://moonpointer.com/new/2011/10/the-invincible-iron-chariot-proof
Flying Spaghetti Monster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
http://thedailyenlightenment.
http://thedailyenlightenment.
http://thedailyenlightenment.
Buddhism is a cosmic religion. It believes that the universe is a host to a diverse spectrum of cosmic communities, gods included and different world systems, ranging from realms to planes of existence.
The following is my personal view. As a fragment of this universe, the universe is already living in us, the same way we live in it as we are a part of the sum of the parts that make up the universe we live in.