Taking Pascal's Wager: Faith, Evidence and the Abundant Life

If you were to speak to the average theist or atheist one would think Pascal’s Wager is an argument for the existence of God-it isn’t.It is an argument why one should consider spiritual matters and the reality claims made in the Bible in comparison to a naturalistic worldview. Either God exists or he does not; either way, I should look into it and wager on his existence rather than his non-existence; I have more to lose with one than the other.Given that traditional understanding of the wager, one will find that this book not only understands the existential nature of Pascal’s Wager, but formulates it well for a modern audience.The primary thesis for Dr. Rota’s book is that, if there is at least a fifty-one percent chance that Christianity is true, wagering on Christianity is the most rational position everyone should take. In an updated formulation of Pascal’s Wager Rota presents the wager’s relevance to life and why it should be taken seriously.To further strengthen the proposition that there is at least a fifty-one percent chance that Christianity is true Rota fairly gives arguments from natural theology-like design and cosmological arguments- and weighs those arguments in light of probability theory. Rota’s book ends with three very short but illustrative biographies of exemplary Christians.To be pithy, Rota’s book builds a strong case for why wagering on Christianity is not only a fifty-one precent chance at being true but also argues why we should want it to be true.

This book is great. Many atheists believe that Pascal's Wager has been debunked and Professor Rota (the author) addresses their most common objections and defeats them.For example, the "many gods" objection that atheists have to Pascal is defeated when the author shows how Christianity has at least a 50% chance of being true.The social sciences clearly show, year after year, that religious people are happier and more charitable than atheists are. Pascal was onto something when he wrote his famous "wager" 400 years ago.Just buy this book if you're interested in Pascal or Christianity. It may change your life.

Rota manages to engage the general reader while teaching him or her to reason carefully about foundational philosophical questions about life and human destiny. Rota is himself a very careful thinker, and the book is informed by the best contemporary scholarship, nicely overlayed by compelling stories of a wide range of people of faith, past and present. He is earnest yet evenhanded in making a systematic case for Christian faith. Highly recommended.

I had to read this book for class. It was very informative and eye-opening. Pascal's Wager is a very attractive idea in philosophy and religion, and this book goes beyond and in-depth on the topic. I highly recommend it to anyone!

Rota marvelously engages some of deepest human questions of life and purpose through his careful research and case for the existence of God and Christianity. Even more, Rota's approach is comprehendible to virtually all. I highly recommend for those holding the existence of God in question or those who would like to strengthen their belief in the Christian faith.

Very good read. This book explains Pascal Wager and also the best reasons to be a believer.

Very good read.

Excelent book. I sincerely recomend it.