Is it morally permissible to believe in God just because it is to your practical advantage to believe?

Full Answer Section

• • • Disbelief + God doesn't exist = Finite gain (freedom from religious constraints).
  • Thus, it's "rational" to wager on God's existence.
• Strengths and Weaknesses of Pascal's Wager:
  • Strengths:
    • Highlights the potential consequences of disbelief, especially for those who accept the concept of an afterlife.
    • Appeals to a form of rational self-interest.
  • Weaknesses:
    • The "Many-Gods" Problem: Doesn't specify which God to believe in, as different religions have conflicting claims.
    • The Problem of Sincerity: Assumes God rewards insincere belief, which many find morally questionable. Many would say that a god would see through such a wager.
    • The Problem of Hiddenness: It does not address the fact that if a god exists, they have chosen to hide themselves.
    • Ignores the possibility of punishment for false belief: It does not address the possibility that a god may punish those who pretend to believe.
    • False dichotomy: It creates a false choice between belief and disbelief, ignoring other possibilities.

The Argument Against Belief Without Sufficient Evidence:

• This argument emphasizes intellectual honesty and the importance of evidence-based reasoning.
• It suggests that belief should be grounded in sound justification, not wishful thinking or fear.
• It critiques blind faith and argues that believing without evidence can lead to irrationality and harmful consequences.
• God's Stance on Atheists and Agnostics:
  • The question of how God would view those who refuse to believe without evidence is a matter of theological speculation.
  • Arguments for God's acceptance:
    • God values reason: If God endowed humans with reason, it's plausible that God would respect its use, even if it leads to disbelief.
    • Intellectual honesty: A benevolent God might prioritize honesty and integrity over blind faith.
    • The problem of hiddeness, means that a god must understand unbelief.
    • Many religious texts promote the idea of seeking truth.
  • Arguments against God's acceptance:
    • Faith as a virtue: Some religious traditions emphasize faith as a virtue, suggesting that God expects belief, even in the absence of conclusive evidence.
    • Divine revelation: Some argue that gods have provided revelations, and that rejecting those revelations is wrong.
  • It is important to understand that there is no way to know what a god would want.

Sample Answer

Belief for Practical Advantage and Pascal's Wager:

The morality of believing for practical advantage is contentious. Many argue that genuine belief should stem from sincere conviction, not calculated self-interest. However, Pascal's Wager offers a utilitarian perspective.

• Pascal's Wager (as explained in Vaughn's book):
  • Pascal argues that the potential gains of believing in God outweigh the potential losses, even if the probability of God's existence is uncertain.
  • The logic:
    • Belief + God exists = Infinite gain (heaven).
    • Belief + God doesn't exist = Finite loss (time, effort).
    • Disbelief + God exists = Infinite loss (hell).