I ate Pascal's Wafer

Excellent write up, devnet.

I'll have you know that I'm not even about to change my screen name, though.

Seriously, though, I don't think ones life is necessarily wasted by being a Christian. If the person believes because Pascal's wager convinced him, then that person would live a wasted life by living out a lie. However, if a person sincerely does believe after examining whatever arguments presented for and against Christianity, then I would say that person's life is not wasted. He may be mistaken, but at least he is not living a lie. I see what you're getting at since you only considered people who take this bet and not the other theists. Good work.

-Nick

bluefugue

Precisely. It rewards sheer brutality and, if one accepts it, confirms one's deepest fears about "might makes right" and the efficacy of naked force, etc. The more vile your religion's punishment is, the stronger (so the argument goes) will be the incentive to adhere to that religion! This is why hell was a brilliantly effective addition to the memepool of religions...