Comments on: On the truth of the New Testament http://www.iamanatheist.com/blog/2010/10/18/on-the-truth-of-the-new-testament/ Discussions of religion and ethics from an atheist perspective Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:44:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: a christian guy http://www.iamanatheist.com/blog/2010/10/18/on-the-truth-of-the-new-testament/comment-page-1/#comment-2975 a christian guy Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:12:28 +0000 http://www.iamanatheist.com/blog/?p=1815#comment-2975 Whether or not you believe in the gospels, I think it is important when using this argument to recognize the historical context in which Jesus was teaching. There was a very strong cultural and religious connection to the Old Testament and the laws of Judaism. What Jesus was doing was teaching against everything that people of that time believed in. This would make Pascal’s Wager seem to be an illogical method of reasoning for whether or not to believe in the disciple’s claims because Eli would have to first abandon all belief in his Jewish culture. I do however understand the point that is trying to be made here.

]]> By: Caleb http://www.iamanatheist.com/blog/2010/10/18/on-the-truth-of-the-new-testament/comment-page-1/#comment-1938 Caleb Sun, 07 Nov 2010 02:57:29 +0000 http://www.iamanatheist.com/blog/?p=1815#comment-1938 I agree with you partially. While some of the people living around 32 B.C. would have nothing to lose by following Jesus, many people would be persecuted for their beliefs. If that were the case, the choice Eli would have to make wouldn’t be between nothing and something. Instead, Eli would have to decide whether the story a follower of Jesus presented was reliable enough to believe.

]]> By: Zach http://www.iamanatheist.com/blog/2010/10/18/on-the-truth-of-the-new-testament/comment-page-1/#comment-1885 Zach Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:57:47 +0000 http://www.iamanatheist.com/blog/?p=1815#comment-1885 Personally, I know few if any Christians who think Pascal’s Wager is a good reason to believe in God. Furthermore, unless you think that Pascal’s Wager actually does influence people (which is, of course, different than thinking that Pascal’s Wager SHOULD influence people), you really shouldn’t be using this argument.

Personally, I don’t believe any religious person believes in God because of Pascal’s Wager, simply because logically it makes no sense at all. People might SAY that Pascal’s Wager influenced them, but I am pretty sure that, if you dig deeper into their reason for belief, you fill find many more important reasons than that.

]]> By: nick http://www.iamanatheist.com/blog/2010/10/18/on-the-truth-of-the-new-testament/comment-page-1/#comment-1823 nick Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:40:17 +0000 http://www.iamanatheist.com/blog/?p=1815#comment-1823 I always hated pascal’s wager. to me it seemed more of a way to divert investigation and a sign that someone lives mentally in fear and is just tyring to cover their hide. maybe they aren’t intentionally but when you look at all that the argument implies that does seem to be the bottom line. I also hear the argument that the new testament is true because the old testament prophecized things that would happen and they happened in the new testament. my question to them is; is it not possible that the people who wrote the new testament simply read the old testament and made it fit?

]]> By: Clytia http://www.iamanatheist.com/blog/2010/10/18/on-the-truth-of-the-new-testament/comment-page-1/#comment-1815 Clytia Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:20:48 +0000 http://www.iamanatheist.com/blog/?p=1815#comment-1815 I think this would work unless you’re talking to a christian who actually from the start agrees that Pascal’s Wager is a dreadful reason to believe in something. And I do know a few of this sort of christian.

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