Ah, Homer Simpson. Even a dolt like him occasionally raises questions that are worth answering. This is one of them.
In case you don’t know, 17th century mathematician, philosopher and physicist Blaise Pascal formulated his philosophy based on the Christian idea of God. Since that time, there have been many challenges to the wager, but let’s deal with the one put into Homer’s mouth by the writers of The Simpsons.
Let me ask you: did four or five “gods” create the universe? What about the air you’re breathing right now — did a committee of “gods” come up with that? Our brains, our opposable thumbs, our ability to recognize right and wrong — did “god” #3 do all that during a very busy day at the office? Or was it #1?
If what I’m writing here seems a bit ludicrous, that’s exactly the point.
So why the Christian god? I bounced the question off a wise pastor. Here’s a bit of Ross Carkner’s thoughts:
“To begin with, we are talking about The Almighty as recorded in the Bible who has no equal. Poor Homer is concerned about all the lesser gods who are duking it out for a share of last place in the god contest.
“These lesser gods have often been put in place, not by their own claims, but the claims we make for them. The Bible records God as making His own claims …. so I do not worship a god of my own making, I worship the God who makes everything!”
Here’s another viewpoint, from John Morris of the Institute for Creation Research: “There is one infallible way to know [what is the right god]—one sure test, and no other. The one God who can defeat death is the only God who can give life!”
That god is the God who offers a gift to humanity: Jesus of Nazareth, who many people believe is His Son. Primary source documents on His life all declare that three days after death, Jesus was brought back to life. That’s right, by “the only God who can give life!”
Now what about God getting “madder and madder” if we don’t worship Him? If the twists and turns of human history have proven anything, it’s that God is all about freewill — that includes us deciding who we want to declare as creator.
Ross Carkner weighs in again at this point:
“Is this God an ego maniac? Does the Almighty crave our attention? or is He more in tune with my redemption? My needs? My crisis? Since He is more concerned about my fulfillment — my fullness of life in Him, his reaction to my choosing lesser gods is not anger, but sadness.”
Exactly. So what do you think about Pascal’s Wager now? Does it make sense? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.
Frank's Cottage 
Truthfully, Pascal’s statement in its abbreviated form as described here, leaves me unmoved. I’m not a philosopher and belief at the intellectual level doesn’t satisfy me. I want to really know who God is, and how I can have a relationship with Him.
The Bible is the best place to learn about God and get confirmation that we are searching in the right direction. The Bible declares that God is love, and that He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him. That sounds pretty good to me.
Homer’s statement seems to accurately describe a lot of people, including those who might never have heard of Pascal or his wager. They think that God is probably real, but they still have doubts because they have never bothered to sincerely pray for God to reveal Himself to them.
My prayer is that those who aren’t sure about God’s existence would pray for Him to reveal Himself to them. Nothing in this world can compare to knowing that God is real and that He loves you, personally!
Great use of the Simpsons!
I like the way Ravi Zacharias puts the wager, where not just eternity is secured, but present happiness also. This makes it more of a game theory affair, where while eternity offers some emotionally remote motivating benefit, the present, where the kingdom has broken into, is a more immediate and therefore stronger motivator.
Doug Geivett places Pascal toward the end of the intellectual journey toward Jesus Christ. To what Brook said, it is less of a rigorous philosophical proof than a practical motivator.
Great thoughts. Thanks for reading and contributing. 🙂