Discuss the various arguments that might be offered to refute each of the following:

“Pascal’s wager” is justifi ably famous in the history of religion and also of betting. Pascal was arguing that agnostics—people unsure of God’s existence—are best off betting that He does exist. If He does but you end up living as an unbeliever, then you could be condemned to spend eternity in the flames of Hell. If, on the other hand, He doesn’t exist but you live as a believer, you suffer no corresponding penalty for being in error. Obviously, then, bettors on God start out with a big edge.