Pascal Pensees[1].doc

Class Notes Pascal- Penseés sensitive to distraction: it is bad because it takes us away from understanding the human nature we try to escape boredom and anxiety through distractions we are a mix between ?monsters? and ?angels? question: are we ready to accept that humankind can be both monsters and angels? is it true that these two extremes can be grasped only through faith? only faith can bring you to the highest level- closest to God- where you can also realize how far you can fall recall: we have a similarity to God because humans are created in the ?likeness? of God. atheist point of view, Jean-Paul Sartre- you are high because you have no master, you are higher than the Christian man. Wagers- you wage for the existence of God, or you wage against his existence. What You Lose What You Gain Wage For God If God does not exist you lose nothing. If He exists you win. If God doesn?t exist you gain nothing, If He does exist you gain Heaven. Wage Against God If God doesn?t exist you lose nothing. If He exists you lose Heaven. If God doesn?t exist you gain earthly happiness. If He does exist you go to Hell. (however this is an oversimplification of faith) Ignatius-?do good deeds, not in hopes of Heaven or fear of Hell? Discussion: What does a believer do more than a nonbeliever? Life has a different rhythm and pattern with faith and not having faith. By waging for God you have nothing to lose, gives you something to look forward to, and if God does not exist you will be dead before you find out anyway. Waging for God makes people act moral, working toward a greater good (Heaven).