The "Island'' Theory and Pascal's Wager- Consequences of Believing in God

The "Island" theory

This comes from the show of its same name. It is the story about how two individuals escape a microcosm of society that they live in to discover that their society is nothing but a machination created by others. There are many similar science fiction movies with similar existensialist themes, such as the ever popular Matrix franchise, the Thirteenth Floor and Dark City.

This forms the basis for this theory-

How sure are we that the fabric of society as we know it is something that is, for sure, what it really is?

Translate the consequences of religious belief into this, and this is the result-

If we believe in God, but if the above statement holds true (reality as we know it is but a lie), then what can we say about our beliefs? Wouldn't everything we know to be true be nothing more than a fabrication? Can you accept, will you be willing to accept that everything you have believed in for your whole life is nothing but a big fat lie?

The majority of people, i take, would rather be swimming in a sea of blissful ignorance about the truth than accept it for what it truly is. That i would rather live a lie than be told of the awful truth. The best analogy of this would be the scene brought up in the Matrix- where you would rather eat the blue pill than take the hard truth of the red.

You would never stoop to even consider if what you believe in is flawed, but what if, just what if, it really is? Is it so difficult to imagine a life without God? Surely you have to understand that there are those who also find it difficult to believe, just as you cannot come to reconciliation as to why the whole world does not want to believe! I know for a start the muslims dont agree with you. y dont christians proselytise to them?

and i dont want you to go to hell LAH.............



Pascal's Wager

• If God exists, you go to heaven: your gain is infinite.
• If God does not exist, you gain nothing & lose nothing.
• Therefore you should live your life as if God exists

Makes it seem like a win win situation dosent it?

Therefore there is no loss. Correct?

Read those words carefully. "You go to heaven". "Your gain is infinite".

Can these two phrases be proved in any possible way?

What if you are living in a false reality? The concept of hell and heaven then is totally brought down by the sheer possibilities that can be wrought up.