Blaise Pascal's Wager

Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist and religious philosopher in the 1600’s. His probability theory laid the basis for modern economics and social science.

Blaise Pascal is known for Pascal’s Wager, or Pascal’s Gambit. His wager theory is not an actual proof of God’s existence. However after analyzing it, a person has little choice but to live out one’s life as though God does in fact exist.

This simple wager scenario can have a life-changing effect on anyone who honestly studies it. Pascal posed the suggestion that even if a person discards all proofs of God’s existence, he should still live his life as though God does in fact, exist. Why is that? According to Pascal, living one’s life as though God exists has everything to gain, and absolutely nothing to lose. On the other hand, living one’s life as though God does not exist has nothing to gain, and absolutely everything to lose.

It is in Pascal’s Pensees that his wager is detailed. His wager is for all of those who trust neither in faith nor in the logic of reason. Pascal is widely known for the following quote: For after all what is man in nature? A nothing in relation to infinity, and all in relation to nothing, a central point between nothing and all and infinitely far from understanding either.

Pascal did not expect that acceptance of his wager would result in faith, or in salvation. Instead, he expected that acceptance of his wager to result in the beginnings of faith. He wrote, You would like to attain faith, and do not know the way; you would like to cure yourself of unbelief, and ask the remedy for it. Learn of those who have been bound like you, and who now stake all their possessions. These are people who know the way which you would follow, and who are cured of an ill which you would be cured. Follow the way by which they began; by acting as if they believed.

And now, for Pascal’s Wager

God either exists, or He does not exist. This is a fact that cannot be refuted. Every person on the face of the earth is forced to make a wager in life. They must live their lives as though God does exist, or they must live their lives as though God does not exist. It is an absolute impossibility not to make this wager. All of the so-called proofs of God’s existence are in the realm of theory, which cannot be proven beyond the shadow of a doubt. Since reason alone cannot decide the question of God’s existence, one must place a wager on his existence.

The facts are that God exists or he does not exist. And, a person must live his life as though God exists, or as though God does not exist.

Scenario Number One: God does exist.
If a person lives his life as though God exists, and God does in fact, exist, then that person has everything to gain. Eternal life in heaven with God will be the reward. On the other hand, if a person lives his life as though God does not exist, and God does in fact, exist, then that person has everything to lose. Eternal existence in hell will be the punishment.

Scenario Number Two: God does not exist.
If a person lives his life as though God exists, but God does not actually exist, then that person has nothing to gain and nothing to lose. When death overtakes that person, he will simply cease to exist. On the other hand, if a person lives his life as though God does not exist, and God actually does not exit, then that person still has nothing to gain and nothing to lose. When death overtakes that person, he will simply cease to exist.

Below is another way to view this wager for those who would rather see a depiction of it in table-form.

.............................................God exists...........He doesn't exist

Live as if God exists:..............Reward is Heaven...No reward

Live as if God doesn't exist:....Reward is Hell..........No reward

Life’s wager has only three possible outcomes: depending on the person’s choice, he will either 1) have an eternal reward, 2) have an eternal punishment, or 3) simply cease to exist. We are left with one startling revelation. There is only one positive outcome associated with the wager of life.

Imagine a person walking up to a game at a casino. Before he makes a bet, the casino employee says, “There are only two bets in this game. You can bet on Red, or you can bet on Black. If you bet on Red, you will either win a fabulous reward, or you will break even. On the other hand, if you bet on Black, you will either lose everything, or you will break even.” The bettor would be a fool to bet on Black because there is absolutely no chance of winning. Red would be the only bet that has any chance of winning. It is the same with the wager of life. There is only one wager with a positive outcome, living life as though God does exist!

If you are a living and breathing person, you are making a wager on your life. You are either living as though God exists, or you are living as though God does not exist. There are no other choices. There is only one positive outcome available for your wager. Which wager are you making on your life?

For an easy-to-understand depiction of this wager scenario, along with other proofs of God’s existence, read my book, Conversations with a Stranger: A Search for God.