RELIGION AS AN AREA OF KNOWLEDGE 3

GOD MATTERS XS IB CLE 2011-2012 REASON AS A WAY OF KNOWING IN RELIGION AND MORALITY REASON is a valuable way of knowing in the areas of RELIGIOUS BELIEFS and MORALITY, but it is used differently from SCIENCE (especially Physical Science). Read on Pascals Wager (Section III, #184-185, #233 par 67-69) by clicking this link. What rational argument does Pascal use to try to convince us that it makes more sense to believe in God than not to believe in God? Complete the diagram below by specifying the consequences in each box. IF GOD DOES NOT EXIST living a lie IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD gain all IF GOD EXISTS

lose nothing IF YOU DONT BELIEVE IN GOD

eternal loss

In no more than two sentences, summarize Pascals main argument as illustrated in the diagram above? Do you personally nd it persuasive or powerful? Why or why not? Do you nd it limited? If so, in what way? Pascals main argument is that it is better to believe in God, whether or not He exists, because the result is either an insignicant loss or you gaining everything as opposed to not believing in God when He actually exists, which would lead to eternal loss. I personally nd it persuasive but not that powerful, and it is somewhat limited in the sense that fear of consequence and desire for reward are not good enough bases for believing in God, as well as how this kind of reasoning undermines our faith. Answer this question then discuss with your group: How does the REASONING used by Pascal differ from REASONING in other domains of knowledge? The reasoning used by Pascal differs from reasoning in other domains of knowledge because Pascals reasoning is based on conjectures as he weighs the costs and benets, while, in the case of other domains of knowledge, reasoned truths from evidences are the bases as facilitated by authority.