I do think that Pascal's wager is misunderstood on one point.
I don't think that the argument asks you to go through the motions of a believer and hope that somehow it would trick god into thinking that you are one. I think it is asking you to actually be a believer. To keep telling yourself that god exists and keep lending credence to any evidence that could remotely suggest the possibility. I think it is saying that if you tell it to yourself long enough, eventually you will convince yourself and become a believer.
Not that this would make the argument any more valid or even better. In fact, if anything, it would make it even worse. Because in this case, the argument is basically asking you to brainwash yourself (and excusing the religious leaders from the job). To ask someone to commit such an atrocity against oneself is worse than murder. Atleast with a murdered you have a chance of defending yourself. This argument is asking you to take up the weapon and kill yourself.
I don't think that the argument asks you to go through the motions of a believer and hope that somehow it would trick god into thinking that you are one. I think it is asking you to actually be a believer. To keep telling yourself that god exists and keep lending credence to any evidence that could remotely suggest the possibility. I think it is saying that if you tell it to yourself long enough, eventually you will convince yourself and become a believer.
Not that this would make the argument any more valid or even better. In fact, if anything, it would make it even worse. Because in this case, the argument is basically asking you to brainwash yourself (and excusing the religious leaders from the job). To ask someone to commit such an atrocity against oneself is worse than murder. Atleast with a murdered you have a chance of defending yourself. This argument is asking you to take up the weapon and kill yourself.
