scipio_africanus's review against another edition
3.0
A long boring slog with golden nuggets interspersed within. Love hate relationship with this book. Been an updown on the shelf journey of several years
davehershey's review against another edition
4.0
Pascal's classic thoughts on numerous topics related to Christianity. This book is at times difficult to read, since he died before he finished it thus leaving many sections only outlined in note form. But slogging through those portions is worthwhile when you get to the good, thought-provoking parts. In some ways Pascal reminds me of Kierkegaard since both were reasonable men who realized that it takes more than just reason alone to come to faith in Christ. Pascal's apologetic reflects this. He is most famous for his Wager, which is often castigated, probably because it is misunderstood. Pascal's Wager does not state, as some seem to think, that you should just believe in God because he might exist, even though such belief is unreasonable. Rather, Pascal's argument was that it is just as reasonable to believe as not to believe; reason cannot prove faith yet faith is not unreasonable. Since reason alone places us in the middle, it is better to take the step in faith and trust in God.
jpwright87's review against another edition
3.0
It's a definite advantage to write a book that covers many subjects in short aphoristic quotes. It allows you to be unbelievably smart and unbelievably stupid with no necessary incoherence. Pascal was not stupid, but let me just say he would've thrived on Twitter.
The man himself seems to be the most interesting part of the work. A mathematician who rails against "Jesuit probability" and other attempts to intellectualize religion. A man famous for his cynical wager pushing the reality and requirement of miracles and prophecies. A man with such disdain for human action but also committed to reformation within the Church. Is he a conservative or a progressive? He's French.
The man himself seems to be the most interesting part of the work. A mathematician who rails against "Jesuit probability" and other attempts to intellectualize religion. A man famous for his cynical wager pushing the reality and requirement of miracles and prophecies. A man with such disdain for human action but also committed to reformation within the Church. Is he a conservative or a progressive? He's French.
josiahdegraaf's review against another edition
5.0
Not sure what all can be said about this book other than that Pascal is a genius.
Rating: 4.5 Stars (Excellent).
Rating: 4.5 Stars (Excellent).
leelulah's review against another edition
5.0
I sure do have a lot to think about after reading this in its entirety, and worse, in a day. I am impressed at Pascal's clarity and present value of his message, considering this was written 300+ years ago.
Even getting more difficult for those who are not familiar with latin or Bible towards the end, it's worth reading. I have had the luck to be able to read the edition with T.S. Eliot's introduction right from Project Gutenberg. I do recommend that one as well, if you can find it in a printed version, so as not to be desperately scrolling through endless pages.
A lot of what I had been discussing and thinking about in my actual process of converting is present here, and exposed with such intelligence and apparent simplicity that it's frightening.
Even getting more difficult for those who are not familiar with latin or Bible towards the end, it's worth reading. I have had the luck to be able to read the edition with T.S. Eliot's introduction right from Project Gutenberg. I do recommend that one as well, if you can find it in a printed version, so as not to be desperately scrolling through endless pages.
A lot of what I had been discussing and thinking about in my actual process of converting is present here, and exposed with such intelligence and apparent simplicity that it's frightening.
klkramer2's review against another edition
5.0
In many way still miles ahead of current thought -- this needs to be required reading in every seminary.
annabelledejesus's review against another edition
4.0
We love ourselves an argument for the existence of theism! It’s pretty easy to make counterpoints to Pascal but I enjoyed his wager scenarios.