As one of the brightest jewels of the Renaissance, Blaise Pascal has a mathematical theorem, a law of physics, and the SI unit of pressure named in his honor. In this episode, we hope to better acquaint you with his famous wager and fervent Christian faith.

<p>As one of the brightest jewels of the Renaissance, Blaise Pascal has a mathematical theorem, a law of physics, and the SI unit of pressure named in his honor. In this episode, we hope to better acquaint you with his famous wager and fervent Christian faith.</p>

<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

GYC Southeast

Rhonda Grakov

Great in God's Sight Season 2

Johannes Kepler: Thinking God’s Thoughts

Blaise Pascal: Where Faith and Reason Intersect

Sir Robert Boyle: Christian Virtuoso

Sir Isaac Newton: On the Shores of the Ocean of Truth

The Celestial Railroad: Part 1

The Celestial Railroad: Part 2

The Celestial Railroad: Part 3

The Celestial Railroad: Part 4

Johann Sebastian Bach: This Art Still Lives

John Bunyan: Progress in Prison

Hello and welcome to Grading God's Sight, the podcast that explores underrated heroes. This is season two and we're so glad you've joined us for this episode entitled Bla Pascal, where Faith and Reason Intersect. Please be sure to subscribe and check out the terrific artwork that goes along with today's story on our website, the great podcast.org. Thanks for listening. By the light of a candle, a young man quickly searched for a piece of paper with intense thoughts flooding his mind. The 30 year old scholar, inventor, and socialite grabbed a pen and began to express the emotions that had just overwhelmed him. This spiritual awakening late in the night of November 23rd, 1654 would drastically alter the course of the remaining years of b Blas Pascal's Short Life. Born in France in the middle of the 17th century, Blas Pascal lived at a time of great change. The Protestant Reformation, which had begun a little over a century before, was shaking the medieval Roman Catholic Church to the core creating factions within the Catholic church itself. Around the same time, a scientific revolution was also underway. Laying the foundations from modern scientific thought, bla Pascal would find himself caught between these two seismic shifts in both the scientific and religious realms. When Blaze was only three years old, his mother died, leaving his father a well-educated government official with a sole responsibility of caring for young bla. In his two sisters, the elder Pascal took it upon himself to educate his children giving rise to two child pros. His daughter, Jacque Clean, became extremely proficient in writing and showed great literary skill while bla demonstrated a similar level of promise in mathematics, in physical science. By his 18th birthday, bla Pascal had published a major essay on K sections in geometry. In his early twenties, he invented a calculator to aid his father in his work as a tax collector, and by the time he reached the age of 30, Pascal had made groundbreaking discoveries in the realm of physics. Today, Pascal's Triangle is taught in most algebra courses. Pascal's Law is familiar to all students of hydraulics, and Pascal is the standard measurement for fluid pressure accepted by physicists around the globe. However, during his rise to fame in the world of science, Pascal, a lifelong member of the Roman Catholic Church, began to take matters of faith more seriously. To fully appreciate his journey to faith, we must understand major developments in the Christian world. During Pascal's life, the Protestant Reformation, which had began a century earlier, generated a mixed response from the Catholic Church. The Popes and most high ranking church officials staunchly opposed the Protestants and their critical assessment of church doctrine and policy. Among the most militant individuals in this counter reformation were the Jesuits. They were members of a religious order, which had been created within the Catholic church to uphold and defend the church against all enemies and detractors. One fundamental principle practiced by the Jesuits was that the end justifies the means. They were willing to use any method including deception, cruelty, and intrigue to punish heretics and bring dissenters back into line with church dogma. It is no surprise then that within the Catholic Church there arose a movement in reaction to the philosophy and work of the Jesuits. This movement known as Jansenism, identified corruption and false doctrine in the church, but did not go as far as the Protestants in their reforms. In his mid to late twenties, bla Pascal was attracted to Jansenism and introduced his sister Jacqueline, to Janssen his teachings. Not long after Jacqueline fully immersed herself in religious pursuits and declared her intentions of entering the Jansenist convent in the city of Port Royal Blaise Pascal was staunchly opposed to his sister's decision. Their father had died a few years earlier, and in choosing to become a nun, Jacqueline must donate her share of the inheritance to the Port Royal convent. It has been suggested that while bla disagreed outwardly with his sister's use of her inheritance, he was really dealing with an inward spiritual struggle. More and more the young Eminence scientist was feeling a distaste for the pleasures and privileges he enjoyed with his successful career and sensed a need to refocus on God. As he witnessed his sister's desire to relinquish secular concerns for total devotion to spiritual things, this desire began to grow in Pascal himself. Jacqueline followed through and became a nun at the Port Royal Convent in 1654. For several months, blaze Pascal's inward struggles continued. Finally, in November of the same year, Pascal had a unique and momentous experience that forever changed his life. While the details are not known, Pascal left behind a written note expressing the thoughts and sentiments that had overwhelmed him. Fire God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, knots of the philosophers and scholars certitude, certitude, heartfelt joy, peace, God of Jesus Christ, my God, and thy God. Thy God shall be my God. Whatever Pascal's experience was, one thing is very clear. He chose to surrender himself to God wholeheartedly throughout the rest of his life. Pascal carried the written memory of this late night experience in his cloak. After this definitive moment in November of 1654, bla Pascal basically ceased his scientific and mathematical work and dwelt mainly on religious topics. Based on his sympathy with the Jansenists, Pascal published a series of polemic works against the ethical system of the Jesuits. These essays published under a pseudonym became known as the provincial letters. They soon sparked controversy and likely contributed to the political storm that resulted in the closing of the Jansenist School In Port Royale. Pascal sought not only to address those within the church with whom he disagreed, he also sought to persuade the non-religious of the validity and importance of the Christian faith. In the last few years of his short life, he worked towards publishing an apology, a defense of the Christian faith. In preparing this major work, Pascal recorded his thoughts in a journal that was published after his death. Under the title, Paul se a French word meaning Thoughts. Pascal was never able to complete his apologetic book, but we do have many of his IDs recorded in the p se. Here is one of his thoughts. Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid it may be true. The cure for this is to show that religion is not contrary to reason, but worthy of reverence and respect. Next, make it attractive. Make good men. Wish it were true, and then show that it is. Another of the ideas recorded in the poll say is what has come to be known as Pascal's wager. The basic idea behind the wager is this. When confronted with the Christian faith, one has two options, belief or unbelief. If the Christian faith is true in its teachings about eternal life or believers, then those who believe will gain everything while those who do not believe will lose everything. However, if the Christian faith is not true, individuals do not gain or lose anything in the end. If anything, those who believe still gain more in this life than unbeliever. As the believers', life is often characterized by some sense of certainty, hope, and even moral living in Pascal's own words, belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved. What harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false. If you gain, you gain all. If you lose, you lose nothing wager than without hesitation that he exists. Pascal's wager is not really a proof for God's existence as some have claimed. Rather, it is a logical appeal to those reluctant to embrace faith. In the final days of his life, he sold all his possessions for the poor except for his Bible and the writings of St. Augustine, who was highly regarded among the Jansenists. Pascal died in Paris at the age of 39 on August 19th, 1662. In modern history, the French scientist and philosopher Blaze Pascal stands out as one characterized by great intellectual ability coupled with deep devotion and faith in God. His journey to faith reminds us to focus on the most important things in life, knowing God and making him known. Thank you for listening to great and God's Sight, a podcast by g y c Southeast. We hope you have enjoyed this adventure through time and pray. It serves to deepen your relationship with God. While we strive to bring you a unique perspective on each believer, we encourage you to use your God-given curiosity to explore these topics for yourself. Please remember to hit the subscribe button and share this episode with your friends via text or social media. You never know who might be encouraged. Until next time, we wish you God's blessing as you seek to be great in his sight too.

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Great in God's Sight Season 2

Blaise Pascal: Where Faith and Reason Intersect

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Other Teachings in Series

Johannes Kepler: Thinking God’s Thoughts

Blaise Pascal: Where Faith and Reason Intersect

Sir Robert Boyle: Christian Virtuoso

Sir Isaac Newton: On the Shores of the Ocean of Truth

The Celestial Railroad: Part 1

The Celestial Railroad: Part 2

The Celestial Railroad: Part 3

The Celestial Railroad: Part 4

Johann Sebastian Bach: This Art Still Lives

John Bunyan: Progress in Prison

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