I have always been impressed by the advice the great French philosopher and mathematician, Blaise Pascal, gave a gambling friend of his who was inclined to doubt the existence of God. “Well, I can understand that,” Pascal said, “but if I were you I would conduct myself as if He did exist. For consider the matter. If God does not exist of course it doesn’t matter anyway. But if He does exist then you have everything to gain or lose forever.”

The good gambler knows where to place his bet. Since eternity is involved, the balance of advantage would still be on the side of choosing to believe in God and your own immortal soul even if the odds against were 100 million to one. I can understand that calculation.

I also understand and admire the immense structures of ritual and teaching and belief that have been constructed over the centuries on the basis of faith in God’s existence…..