The Wager Part 1

Another Pascal argument was his famous "“wager"”.

It goes like this. If you wager all on God and he turns out to be True, then you win. If you wager all on God and He does not exist, you have at least lived a good life.

Either way you “win”.

Hmnnn.

I love Pascal, especially the Dutton edition of Pascal. The Penguin edition sucks. Almost like two different Pascals...Dueling Pascals.

Anyway, Pascal rocks (Dutton). But on this “Wager” he was an idiot.

Paul of Tarsus mocks him 1600 years earlier (is it 1500?).

“If Jesus is not raised from the dead we are, of all men (and women) most to be pitied.”

Paul. That party animal, also says that if the J-Man thing is NOT SO, better to “eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” He quotes contemporary Greek poets. He hangs out with those who wanna explore.

I encourage this too. Always read poets. Read Pinsky and Snyder and Ginsberg. Read Mary Oliver and William Everson.

But make no mistake, St. Paul sends Pascal’s argument home in a blazing pine box. (oh that was cheap!).