Pascal's Wager

Every once in a while, as I peruse the math section of my bookshelves (yes, I have a math section), I pick up Blaise Pascal's Penées and reread the famous chapter, The Wager. Although I had never read the original text of this famous theory of Pascal's until I was in my early twenties, I have known about it since at least my early teens. When I was 17 years old I began to seriously question my Christian faith. My chief questions, beyond whether Christ had died for my sins or not, was, "Does God exist?" and "Is there an afterlife?". To me, at the time, the only option if God did not exist, was to kill myself. I felt that there was really nothing to live for if all I have to look forward to at the end of this whole life thing was death. If there was no memory of all the difficult trial and tribulation of life, love, and the attempt to acquire as much happiness as possible, WHAT IS THE POINT? People have since explained to me the arguments for the fallacy of Pascal's proof, but I have continued on, in faith, believing in God and have since gone much further, returning fully, to my Christian faith (initially, by way of C.S. Lewis, which is another story).

After reading a bit of the Penées again today, I felt that more people really need to be exposed to his writings. So here I bring you a directly quoted, abridged version of The Wager of Pascal:

Let us then examine the point, let us say: 'Either God is or he is not.' But to which view shall we be inclined? Reason cannot decide this question. Infinite chaos separates us. At the far end of this infinite distance a coin is being spun which will come down heads or tails. How will you wager? Reason cannot make you choose either, reason cannot prove either wrong . . .
Let us weigh up the gain and the loss involved in calling heads that God exists. Let us assess the two cases: if you win you win everything, if you lose you lose nothing. Do not hesitate then; wager that he does exist . . .
And thus, since you are obliged to play, you must be renouncing reason if you hoard you life rather than risk it for an infinite gain, just as likely to occur as a loss amounting to nothing . . .
If you are unable to believe, it is because of your passions, since reason impels you to believe and yet you cannot do so . . . Learn from those who were once bound like you and who now wager all they have . . . What have you to lose? . . .
Now what harm will come to you from choosing this course? You will be faithful, honest, humble, grateful, full of good works, a sincere, true friend . . . It is true you will not enjoy noxious pleasures, glory and good living, but will you not have others?
I tell you that you will gain even in this life, and that at every step you take along this road you will see that your gain is so certain and your risk so negligible that in the end you will realize that you have wagered on something certain and infinite for which you have paid nothing.