*promote

Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Thursday, May 6th, 2010 4:51pm PDT - promote requested by RedSky.

Wow, that gave me a good hearty laugh. Thanks for that!

Tags for this video have been changed from 'stephen fry, david mitchell, sean lock' to 'stephen fry, david mitchell, sean lock, cream cakes, sod off' - edited by calvados

I can't believe somebody found a new angle (for me at least) into this matter. Doesn't surprise it was David Mitchell, though.

The idea of a bunch of bitter atheists in heaven is awesome. Qi is brilliant

>> ^ajkido:

I can't believe somebody found a new angle (for me at least) into this matter. Doesn't surprise it was David Mitchell, though.

It's not a new angle, it's simply ignoring/bypassing the parameters of the wager. It's actually the only reasonable answer to it (without going into the theological debates, which are pointless anyway since Pascal made it clear that his wager was only something atheists could even consider taking because of the whole "sincerity of belief" thing the other guy mentioned). As for the novelty of Mitchell's answer, Voltaire already responded to the wager in much the same way, i.e. by making fun of Pascal himself and of the whole idea of an atheist wagering on something he believes doesn't exist in the first place. Like they say, the only way to win is not to play.

It's a new comedic angle though.

Personally I disagree with Pascal not simply because Yahweh is supposed to be able to read minds and tell if you're faking, but because I reckon you do have something to lose in this life if you bet that there is a god and spend your time worshipping it. You lose time (best spent appreciating the only life that you're ever going to have) by fixating on some future life somewhere else that probably doesn't exist.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'stephen fry, david mitchell, sean lock, cream cakes, sod off' to 'stephen fry, david mitchell, sean lock, cream cakes, sod off, pascals wager' - edited by radx

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just taking the wager qualifies you though, as it shows your lack of confidence in your lack of faith

Replaced video embed code with backup #3396 (supplied by member campionidelmondo) - embed replaced by member Hybrid.

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