"Dilbert" cartoonist Scott Adams passed away at 68 earlier this week from prostate cancer. While Adams was prone to making headlines in recent years for his often controversial statements on his podcast and YouTube livestreams, it is a different type of comment that he made in early January that is making the rounds following his death: his embrace of Christianity.
“You’re going to hear for the first time today that it is my plan to convert [to Christianity],” Adams, a longtime agnostic, announced on his January 4th livestream.
“I have not been a believer,” Adams explained, before pivoting to the rationale for his newfound change of heart. “I am now convinced that the risk-reward is completely smart. If it turns out that there’s nothing there, I’ve lost nothing. But I’ve respected your wishes, and I like doing that. If it turns out there is something there, and the Christian model is the closest to it, I win.”
The frank explanation of his thinking has prompted renewed discussion on an age-old topic: Pascal's wager.
Pascal’s Wager Explained
Pascal’s wager is a philosophical argument made famous by the 17th century French philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal.
He began with the premise that it was impossible to prove or disprove the existence of God through science or reason.
Then, he argued, a truly rational person should believe in God because the reward of eternity in heaven was immeasurable, with minimal earthly losses beyond moral restraint, religious practice, and foregone pleasures. Disbelief in God, on the other hand, may carry with it minor worldly benefits, but it also means potentially disastrous – and eternal – consequences.
Pascal described it as a wager forced upon us by our very existence, often simplified as a coin-flip, since we must choose how to live even in uncertainty. Because “reason is incapable of deciding” the question, belief must be determined by weighing the consequences of each possible outcome.
What Are the Criticisms of Pascal’s Wager?
Pascal’s wager has no shortage of critics, and even in his day, Pascal’s wager had holes poked in it by his contemporaries. Critics of the argument say that it rests on several shaky assumptions.
The most common objection is the “many-gods problem,” which notes that the wager arbitrarily favors one conception of God while ignoring the countless deities proposed by other religions – many of which promise different rewards or punishments.
Others contend that belief adopted purely as a self-interested gamble would be meaningless to an omniscient God, who could distinguish genuine faith from strategic compliance.
Skeptics also point out that belief cannot simply be willed into existence by weighing consequences, and that reducing faith to a cost-benefit calculation strips it of its moral and truth-seeking dimensions, cynically reducing faith to, at best, a pragmatic strategy.
After all, belief and disbelief tend to be shaped by upbringing, personal experience, culture, and conscience… not abstract calculations of risk and reward.
Embracing Jesus: Sincere or Phony?
Scott Adams' surprise announcement that he was accepting Christ prompted many believers to cheer his decision. Supporters hold that even if one waits until their final moments to embrace their faith, the decision should still be celebrated.
But critics of Adams, including the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) were quick to point out that his decision appeared to be motivated by self-interest rather than legitimate belief:
A more stark (and public) example of Pascal's wager in action would be hard to find.
Meanwhile, others sought to understand what it means to accept the wager in the way that Adams did:
This question sparked some interesting discussion and prompted responses from popular accounts and pastors alike:
Pascal’s Wager and the Climate
As it happens, the same reasoning behind Pascal's wager has come up in other contexts. Since the 90s, climate advocates – including Warren Buffett – have applied the wager to climate change, arguing that it is logically consistent to embrace aggressive policy, given the potentially disastrous results of inaction.
“Pascal, it may be recalled, argued that if there were only a tiny probability that God truly existed, it made sense to behave as if He did because the rewards could be infinite whereas the lack of belief risked eternal misery,” Buffett wrote. “Likewise, if there is only a 1% chance the planet is heading toward a truly major disaster and delay means passing a point of no return, inaction now is foolhardy."
As for Scott Adams, he took Pascal’s bet. And as he put it in one of his final social media posts, “what happens next is between me and Jesus.”
What do you make of Pascal's wager?
25 comments
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Patricia Ann Gross
Having worked in hospice and seeing what happens to people who are facing a small finite amount of time until their death, what Adams went through is not uncommon. Many people have said, I would rather die than [...] change their minds, especially when [...] could save their life or give them more time.
When I was facing a very complicated brain surgery, with an unknown outcome, my husband and I sat down and drew up all the papers needed for him to speak for me if I couldn't speak for myself, and I made my wishes for when and how a decision for stopping extraordinary life support would be made. I went so far as to completely plan my funeral if I did not survive it, and thank God every day that it never came to having to make that decision. I came through the process with all my cognitive and most of my motor skills intact. It's been almost seven years now, with no recurrance of the tumor. It was also a time when I had to reconsider my faith. One thing I am aware of is that doubt is a part of faith. Not knowing what (if anything) exists beyond that "rainbow bridge" is normal and part of the human condition. We won't know until we make that journey. I believe that since God made us, God also knows this and is okay with it.
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Michael Burton
Does God have a personality? From reading Christian dogma, it appears to me that Jesus had a personality. He was kind, compassionate and understanding. But he could also get angry as when he drove the money mongers from the temple. Why do the Gods of Christainity, Judaism, Islam and others require humans to worship them, do their gods have egos? Why do the churches of these Gods require a corporate structure to formulate their worship Think about this: if the Gods of Christanity, Islam Judaism, et al have traits that are human doesn't that limit them to just the traits that are manifest in humans? For me me all things, repeat all things, are infinite in time and space, but not in form. Humans, because of their unique mindsets, that they are able to transmit to others are determined to answer the unknown, to fill the void with images and beliefs that they can manage, these become gods, but they are small compared to the actual endlessness of inifnity
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Clayton Lee Pratt
I'm a staunch atheist, no belief in an afterlife whatsoever. I do believe in being prepared for the the obvious. I live in an area where weather related threats are common, preparing for these events makes sense. We have been through many of these events, we have experienced the fallout and we know what we need to get through them. I keep a healthy food supply on hand that is constantly used and replaced with fresh supplies, an emergency gas generator, a solar generator, cooking appliances (two hot plates, electric skillet, electric griddle, electric convection toaster oven, and other things). I keep fresh fuel on hand with a fuel stabilizer in it and at 5 months I put that fuel in my truck and replace it. I cook from scratch daily, make all my own breads, keep a garden yearly, can the excess from my garden, etc. I do all these things to be prepared for life, to live healthy and survive the foreseeable. I can predict what lies ahead in daily life and be prepared for it, this is justifiable action. I have zero belief in an afterlife. There are hundreds of religions, but only one can be correct? Therefore believing any of them is just insane thinking. I find letting go of irrational thinking to be very easy and have no regrets about it. I will continue to prepare for the obvious. I stopped spending time with people who push their irrational beliefs on me during the early days of the pandemic. People who are unwilling to wear a protective mask and get a life saving vaccination, but instead push belief in god and trusting god ahead of the obvious? These people have no place in my life. They are more likely to get me sick and end my life prematurely than to bring longevity into my life. I have no time available for such foolishness. I will continue to live my life in survival mode because life is here and now, not after death. Death is nothing, pure nothing. When life ends it is over, enjoy it while you have it!
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JT Sunrise
🌀 THE WAGER CRACKS BENEATH THE DAWN Adams stood at the edge, flipping Pascal’s coin in the final light—risk-reward, a ledger carved from fear, hedging infinity like wallpaper pasted over scars. True faith never bets. It breathes. It recurs. It refuses the empire’s performance. Comments here carry wounds: the mumbo-jumbo tongues circling like conditioned smoke, the clay-frog defense against soul-thieves cloaked in divine claim, the hypocritical grids that tear apart the web of life. Arm yourself with the faith-blade of Christianity—but temper it with Judaism’s scale of just mercy, spin it in Buddhism’s wheel of embracing love, stand firm in Hinduism’s call to duty, root it in Islam’s pillar of justice, seek it with Mormon truth-hunger, and protect it as Indigenous wisdom guards the living web. Science meets belief at the infinite intersection: Great Spirit and Jesus walking side by side, no winners declared in the losers’ think. Hell does not tremble at pragmatic deathbed avowals. It trembles at rituals born of unity: peace woven into love, love having fun even in the storm’s scream. What happens next is not wagered—it’s result between the sovereign heart and the dawn that never bargains. Reframe the mind. Reject the performance. Step into peace, love, unity, and a little wild fun. —Rev. JT Sunrise
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Joseph Grieco
So, he, like Emperor Constantine, essentially waited until his deathbed to convert. It's called "hedging one's bets", and given the treatment Adams gave to people over the last ten or so years, he figured it was his only way of making it past St. Peter. Sorry, but I don't believe that an instant's atonement makes up for a lifetime of being cruel to others, and wanting to deny them their basic rights.
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Rev. Mike Eggleston
Pascal's Wager is based on the idea that either the xtian god exists or none do. It completely ignore the possibilty that one or more of the thousands of other gods are real. At least Atheists haven't spent their lives annoying Odin/Zeus/Jove/Ra/etc. etc. by worshiping a false god.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
When I said ‘Jesus Freaks’ it was a bit of an exaggeration when compared to the true definition. The church, Maranatha-something, was mainly comprised of students from the local college. But there were older members, some with their children. But Jesus was first and foremost. That and the dancing, speaking in tongues and hamd-laying.
Thing is they were really nice people. Delusional garbage, but nice. It was interesting to watch newcomers get condition to the weird practices. It was usually speaking in tongues.. that was the easiest thing because all you had to do is just say some mumbo-jumbo and keep up a rhythm. As those translations it could get tricky. Until they got the hang of it, they stumble now and then, lose their translation connection. When that happened, the pastor would praise Jesus for their efforts and I guess just kind of bring them into the circle jerk a little bit more. Social conditioning in action. Sitting through that? They should have gotten college credit for sociology 101.
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Peter Senderowitz
I truly beieve that if most people embrace the moral teachings found in the Gospels the world W ould be a better place. As Jesús said to the Scribes and Philstines trying to trap him with their clever tongues , "... that is Mans"not God's... " Rev.Peter S .
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Graeme Harvey
You don't need to be a Christian, from what I understand it just means be nice to others & don't be a dick, or a racist dick.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Peter, I have to agree with you but only if you include teachings found in the Gospels of the Book of Mormon and Quran. The Bible is just filled with hatred, lust, sex, phonography, death and killing. That's why the world is in such a terrible state right now.
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James Riggle-Johnson
Regardless of what Scott Adams said, none of us can know what was truly in his heart. I often hear Christians speak confidently about their faith, then watch how they judge and condemn others, and still I couldn’t tell you who is going to heaven. That judgment isn’t mine to make.
Over the last decade, my faith has been shaken — not by skeptics, but by people who loudly call themselves “good Christians” while saying some of the most hateful things I’ve ever heard. One of them—South Carolina state Rep. RJ May, recently sentenced to 17.5 years in prison for possession and distribution of child pornography. He led attacks on drag queens and transgender people, claiming they were a danger to children — while he was the real threat.
These are the same kinds of voices now declaring with certainty that Scott Adams doesn’t really believe and is bound for hell. Rather than leaving judgment to God, they seem determined to decide it themselves. So let Adams hedge his bet if he chooses to. None of us are qualified to say what happened after his death.
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Rev Ned
If out of the thousands of religions in the world only one is true, logic dictates none are true. Prove me wrong.
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Rev. BH
If one is true, none are true? As Spock would say, "highly illogical", Ned.
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Rev Ned
Should have read “if only one is ‘supposedly’ true’. That said. To hedge my bet, I have a pole arm, short sword and hatchet to be buried with me. Then, if the Valkyries carry me across the 🌈 bridge to Valhalla, I will have weapons to fight the Ice Giants with.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Pascal’s Wager is something that I tried in college as a result of my girlfriend’s asking me to come to a bible study and being pressured to be ‘saved’. I felt nothing but having grown up in a ‘religious’ family (like most people??) I just went along with it. No big deal.
Except this turned into going to a church populated by Jesus freaks maybe 3 times a week. Very nice people but the dancing in the spirit, speaking in tongues/translating, laying on hands stuff made me think about the nonsense a lot. I never really believed and after about 4 years of the nonsense I broke up with her because I just couldn’t see myself living a lie my entire life. Never told her why. Doing that would have hurt her more than simply leaving.
The problem is that ‘stating’ that one believes and ACTUALLY BELIEVING are two entirely different matters. Seems to me that ‘god’ would know. The ‘fake it till you make it’ ditty I heard in AA is something designed to get you to accept their higher power bullsh*t, because it pulls people in just lije Pascal’s bet with hopes the brainwashing works.
No, stating and actually believing are two entirely different matters. I faked it all during college and never made it. In fact it opened my eyes to the true reality of religiously delusional beliefs.
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Barbara Harris
Ah, the Jesus Freaks. Some how or other my parents had taken into their home one that they felt sorry for. Neither of my parents were church attending Christians and it was an odd decision.
One night I stopped by to do my laundry and neither of my parents were home. This guy always creeped me out and that night he tried to rape me, all the while telling me that God was telling him it was the only way to save my soul. I managed to get my hands on a clay frog my mom had by her plants and hit him as hard as I could in the head. He was dazed and I ran. I called my parents the next day and told them what had happened. My dad called a close friend in the police department and they came an removed the guy.
From what I understood he was committed which, since it was back at the time that committed meant longer then the current 72 hour hold.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
When I said ‘Jesus Freaks’ it was a bit of an exaggeration when compared to the true definition. The church, Maranatha-something, was mainly comprised of students from the local college. But there were older members, some with their children. But Jesus was first and foremost. That and the dancing, speaking in tongues and hamd-laying.
Thing is they were really nice people. Delusional garbage, but nice. It was interesting to watch newcomers get condition to the weird practices. It was usually speaking in tongues.. that was the easiest thing because all you had to do is just say some mumbo-jumbo and keep up a rhythm. As those translations it could get tricky. Until they got the hang of it, they stumble now and then, lose their translation connection. When that happened, the pastor would praise Jesus for their efforts and I guess just kind of bring them into the circle jerk a little bit more. Social conditioning in action. Sitting through that? They should have gotten college credit for sociology 101.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
The sex most have been really good to stick it out with her for 4 years.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
So many purported christians act with this same mindset. Makes you wonder if Hitler is is heaven.
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Sir Lionheart
Or if in fact there really is a heaven. 🤭
No one knows if there is anything after this life. Religionists will of course say there is, but in reality they don’t really know. All they have is a “belief” structure, which is no different to those peoples of all of the earths religions. Many are very adamant there is, even though they cannot show any demonstrable evidence to support their beliefs.
We might all be surprised when we “pass” and find that Lord Krishna is waiting for us. 🤗
🦁❤️
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Rev. BH
Lion, one god, many gods, no god. Only kindness, empathy, love and tolerance matter. That is my religion. What is your? (Don't bother answering - you never do.)
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Sir Lionheart
I totally agree with you. Love is supreme! 🤗
My Goddess is my dear wife. I’m sure all of our spouses are worth worshipping.
Thank you for your kindness in your reply.
🦁❤️
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Rev Ned
Or the Valkyries carry you across the 🌈 bridge to Valhalla. Where you will party and fight the ICE Giants.
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Kerry L Gausemel
Indeed he is. All are children of God no matter their mistakes here.
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Does it really matter? Luke 18:8 “When the Son of Man returns, will he find faith in earth?” Whatever you choose, it’s about your faith. But the greatest of these is love. Whatever you decide “Do EVerything in Love.”