I like this guy's take on it
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal's_Wager
(lardyboy Next stop, Fissplap Central, Thu 1 Apr 2010, 16:21, 4 replies)

Pascal's Wager
Isn't that great a bet really, when you think how many religions there are out there.

When Pascal died, the Flying Spaghetti Monster probably wasn't at all impressed with his choice of deity, and condemned him to being boiled for all eternity in a vat of marinara sauce.
(Vice Admiral Sir Charles Cockbrush KCB MBE DSO, who is finding it increasingly difficult to log into b3ta.com wants to duck your aunt and kick your puppy, Thu 1 Apr 2010, 16:39, closed)

Hmm.
If everyone's thinking was as wooly and wishy-washy as Pascal's, we would probably still be living in the 17th century!
( 100% Cock Raw like carrots., Thu 1 Apr 2010, 16:40, closed)

Pascal's Wager
is the most spineless bet-hedging imaginable. Notice it never says anywhere 'you might as well believe in Zeus' or 'Odin'. You 'might as well' believe in any of them, too.
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Thu 1 Apr 2010, 23:24, closed)

Exactly. The reason Christianity has so much power is because it always ends up being 'They are completely right, or there is nothing'. If we're going to listen to the Pope, why not (Long list of other religious and spiritual leaders) as well?
(Legion, Sat 3 Apr 2010, 8:50, closed)

The argument against Pascal's wager is as follows.
If we were created by God in God's image then surely we were created to be free thinking and questioning of our environment.

It is taught by Christians that God is an infinately forgiving, benevolant God (the old 'how many times should I turn my cheek?' jazz). Surely if these two facts are true then God would not punish people for questioning his existance in the afterlife.
( Anthropos Was making beer on, Fri 2 Apr 2010, 10:04, closed)