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What is the mathematical probability that your religion is correct?
A lot of people apparently assume that because Christianity is either correct or it isn't, this somehow constitutes a 50-50 chance. Numerous apologist arguments, such as Pascal's Wager, are based on this assumption.
However, to determine the mathematical probability that a specific proposition about God is accurate, we must first determine the total number of possible states that could exist. Are there really only 2? Since God is an unknowable entity, I would postulate that there are infinite possible states - for all we know, God could be an entity for which the notion of "existence" in not applicable.
So given an infinite number of possible "Ultimate Truths", is there any reason to think yours is more likely than another? Keeping in mind that your personal faith has no bearing on probability, the chances of you being right is exactly 1 divided by infinity, or one infinitieth.
On the bright side, at least one of the inifinite possibilities must be correct. Maybe it's yours.
allilue: Actually you're wrong. That would be true if you said YOU don't comprehend God, but you're saying Humanity can't comprehend God. If one person gets it right on the nose, you're wrong. So your chances are really Infinity - (6 billion / Infinity), which is only 99.9(repeating)%. Not 100%.
creatrix: For some odd reason you are assuming that someone has to be right (hence p = 1/number of people). There is no reason for this assumption, unless you think that God's existence depends on belief. Also, the probability of G is 100% - SOMETHING must be true. If God does not exist, the G is the non-existence of God. Atheists have exactly the same chance of being right as anyone else.
wisdom: Golly, you're right! Thanks so much for sharing your profound wisdom with me. Here I thought I had made a spiritual breakthrough, but now I see I was just being hyperfoluted. Boy do I feel silly now.
9 Answers
- ZombieTrix 2012Lv 61 decade agoFavorite Answer
Let God =G
The probability of g is 1:1
Let MY religion = R
if G is TRUE, then the probability of MY religion is 1: 6 to the 100th power (approximate number of people on eath, since religion is very personal and no one believes exactly the same as anyone else. This presupposes, though, that there are not other beings on other worlds.)
if G is FALSE, the the probability of MY religion is nil.
However, if G is in fact all-loving, then the actual mathematic probablity of the truth of R is moot.
- 1 decade ago
mathematically the probablity of religion to be correct is 1/no of religions in the world.
But Plz always keep humanity ahead of all religion
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Soleil Noir says its a 50/50 for the powerball
Try the truth...
"The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 146107962"
which is much less than the odds that god and jesus and all those other man made myths actually exist (ie "one infinitieth" chance)
Source(s): Guess what ? GOD DOES NOT EXIST ! http://godisimaginary.com/ - WisdomLv 41 decade ago
whats the mathematical probability that you love your loved one? or that you are loved by him/her or it? how do you prove it truly exists? how can you prove it to me?
You can never expect to explain that which is abstract, in spiritual form, by means of something as base , dynamic and fallible as mere science. thats illogical. so dont confuse yourself by a bunch of hyperfoluted little abstract theories which are built in the air with no proof either. By virtue of that, on a scale of 1-10 i'd say the sensibility or logic of your question is virtually nil.
Source(s): just thought i'd add - the Bible says "God is Love" so if you can determine for me the probability of the Love Theory which I asked, perhaps i'd feel more inclined to answer your question. See, what you are suggesting is to scientifically prove something say like, parapsychology (the science which involves the study of the supernatural). Some sciences are not exact, this is one of them, they're therefore much more open to criticism and almost vulnerable to ridicule (such as which seems to underlie your argument regarding religion). However, if you had God's love in your life such as I have had all of my life from the day I was born, and then later when I made a conscious adult choice (instead of what is the popular assumption that we Christians dont think for ourselves!!) well, if you had my life experience as an intelligent thinking individual, you'd know it. Some things in life can't be proven, there are several scientists who could not initially prove their theories and to the dull and unintelligent and even some intelligent folk, their theories or claims seemed absurd. Remember, the earth was considered flat once, all other theories were considered rubbish...Science therefore, as fallible and dynamic as it is, is merely a base form of intelligence which can only explain that which is tangible to the common mind to understand. There's more to life than baseness, if you know what i mean. - How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- 1 decade ago
Who cares about mathematical probability when it comes to faith? It just doesn't compute!
- Anonymous1 decade ago
By Christian thinking, that also means my chances of winning the Power Ball tomorrow night are also 50/50 -- either I'll win, or I won't!
- Allison LLv 61 decade ago
100%
By saying I don't think humans are intelligent enough to fully comprehend a higher power, therefore we know nothing, I'm covering all my bases.
