Blaise Pascal

Pre-reading

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) was a French philosopher, scientist, mathematician, inventor, and theologian1. In mathematics, he was an early pioneer in the fields of game theory and probability theory. In philosophy he was an early pioneer in existentialism. As a writer on theology and religion he was a defender of Christianity.

Despite chronic ill health, Pascal made historic contributions to mathematics and to physical science, including both experimental and theoretical work on hydraulics, atmospheric pressure, and the existence and nature of the vacuum. As a scientist and philosopher of science, Pascal championed strict empirical observation and the use of controlled experiments; he opposed the rationalism and logico-deductive method of the Cartesians; and he opposed the metaphysical speculations and reverence for authority of the theologians of the Middle Ages.

Although he never fully abandoned his scientific and mathematical interests, after his uncanny Night of Fire (the intense mystical illumination and midnight conversion that he experienced on the evening of November 23, 1654), Pascal turned his talents almost exclusively to religious writing. It was during the period from 1656 until his death in 1662 that he wrote The Lettres Provinciales and The Pensées.The Lettres Provinciales is a satirical attack on Jesuit casuistry and a polemical defense of Jansenism. The Pensées is a posthumously2 published collection of unfinished notes for what was intended to be a systematic apologia for the Christian religion. Along with his scientific writings, these two great literary works have attracted the admiration and critical interest of philosophers and serious readers of every generation.

Prompts for Your Reading

1.The author confirms that “The Christian religion consists in two points”. What are the two points?

2.What is the object of the whole course of things according to Pascal?

3.“And on this ground they take occasion to revile the Christian religion, because they misunderstand it.” What is these people’s misunderstanding of God and Christian religion?

4.What is the danger of believing in deism?

5.What are the “pride of philosophers” and the “despair of atheists”?

6.How does Pascal describe the Christian God?

7.What role does Jesus Christ play in the world of God and man of God?

[1] Men blaspheme3 what they do not know. The Christian religion consists in two points. It is of equal concern to men to know them, and it is equally dangerous to be ignorant of them. And it is equally of God’s mercy that He has given indications of both.

[2] And yet they take occasion to conclude that one of these points does not exist, from that which should have caused them to infer the other. The sages4 who have said there is only one God have been persecuted, the Jews were hated, and still more the Christians. They have seen by the light of nature5 that if there be a true religion on earth, the course of all things must tend to it as to a centre.

[3] The whole course of things must have for its object the establishment and the greatness of religion. Men must have within them feelings suited to what religion teaches us. And, finally, religion must so be the object and centre to which all things tend, that whoever knows the principles of religion can give an explanation both of the whole nature of man in particular, and of the whole course of the world in general.

[4] And on this ground they take occasion to revile6 the Christian religion, because they misunderstand it. They imagine that it consists simply in the worship of a God considered as great, powerful, and eternal; which is strictly deism7, almost as far removed from the Christian religion as atheism8, which is its exact opposite. And thence they conclude that this religion is not true, because they do not see that all things concur to the establishment of this point, that God does not manifest Himself to men with all the evidence which He could show.

[5] But let them conclude what they will against deism, they will conclude nothing against the Christian religion, which properly consists in the mystery of the Redeemer9, who, uniting in Himself the two natures, human and divine, has redeemed men from the corruption of sin in order to reconcile them in His divine person to God.

[6] The Christian religion, then, teaches men these two truths; that there is a God whom men can know, and that there is a corruption in their nature which renders them unworthy of Him. It is equally important to men to know both these points; and it is equally dangerous for man to know God without knowing his own wretchedness, and to know his own wretchedness without knowing the Redeemer who can free him from it. The knowledge of only one of these points gives rise either to the pride of philosophers, who have known God, and not their own wretchedness, or to the despair of atheists, who know their own wretchedness, but not the Redeemer.

[7] And, as it is alike necessary to man to know these two points, so is it alike merciful of God to have made us know them. The Christian religion does this; it is in this that it consists.

[8] Let us herein examine the order of the world, and see if all things do not tend to establish these two chief points of this religion: Jesus Christ is the end of all, and the centre to which all tends. Whoever knows Him knows the reason of everything.

[9] Those who fall into error err only through failure to see one of these two things. We can then have an excellent knowledge of God without that of our own wretchedness, and of our own wretchedness without that of God. But we cannot know Jesus Christ without knowing at the same time both God and our own wretchedness.

[10] Therefore I shall not undertake here to prove by natural reasons either the existence of God, or the Trinity, or the immortality of the soul, or anything of that nature; not only because I should not feel myself sufficiently able to find in nature arguments to convince hardened atheists, but also because such knowledge without Jesus Christ is useless and barren. Though a man should be convinced that numerical proportions are immaterial truths, eternal and dependent on a first truth, in which they subsist, and which is called God, I should not think him far advanced towards his own salvation.

[11] The God of Christians is not a God who is simply the author of mathematical truths, or of the order of the elements; that is the view of heathens10 and Epicureans11. He is not merely a God who exercises His providence over the life and fortunes of men, to bestow on those who worship Him a long and happy life. That was the portion of the Jews. But the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God of Christians, is a God of love and of comfort, a God who fills the soul and heart of those whom He possesses, a God who makes them conscious of their inward wretchedness, and His infinite mercy, who unites Himself to their inmost soul, who fills it with humility and joy, with confidence and love, who renders them incapable of any other end than Himself.

[12] All who seek God without Jesus Christ, and who rest in nature, either find no light to satisfy them, or come to form for themselves a means of knowing God and serving Him without a mediator. Thereby they fall either into atheism, or into deism, two things which the Christian religion abhors12 almost equally.

[13] Without Jesus Christ the world would not exist; for it should need be either that it would be destroyed or be a hell.

[14] If the world existed to instruct man of God, His divinity would shine through every part in it in an indisputable manner; but as it exists only by Jesus Christ, and for Jesus Christ, and to teach men both their corruption and their redemption13, all displays the proofs of these two truths.

[15] All appearance indicates neither a total exclusion nor a manifest presence of divinity, but the presence of a God who hides Himself. Everything bears this character.

Notes

1.theologian: someone who is learned in theology or who speculates about theology神学者

2.posthumously: after death

3.blaspheme: speak of showing no respect, especially to sacred things

4.sage: a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom先贤

5.by the light of nature: by instinct

6.revile: abuse verbally

7.deism: the form of theological rationalism that believes in God on the basis of reason without reference to revelation自然神论

8.atheism: the doctrine or belief that there is no God无神论

9.Redeemer: Jesus Christ

10.heathen: a person who does not acknowledge your god异教徒

11.epicurean: a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment, especially good food and drink享乐主义者

12.abhor: hate, detest

13.redemption: the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil救赎

Questions for Further Thinking

1.“And it is equally of God’s mercy that He has given indications of both.”“God’s mercy” is frequently referred to in the Christian world. Give examples of God’s mercy from your readings or any other form of literature.

2.If you do not believe in any religion, do you think there should be a center we all tend to? If yes, what is this center for you?

3.The author speaks of corruption, sin and wretchedness when he talks about human nature. What does Buddhism say about human nature correspondingly?

4.What will become of Christianity if Jesus Christ has never existed?

5.For those of us who do not believe in God, where else can we find our salvation?

After-reading Assignment

Oral Work

1.Research into similarities and differences between Christianity and Buddhism and report your findings to your classmates.

2.Hold a discussion in groups of four and exchange your views about atheism in China. Why do you think atheism seems more acceptable in China?

3.An interesting debate topic is whether religion is superstitious. Prepare a debate in the class with one side arguing for and the other against the notion: Religions are superstitious.

4.Bernard Shaw says, “There is only one religion, though there are a hundred versions of it.” Discuss with your partner and try to understand what he means.

5.We “outsiders” feel that God is only nice to those who have faith in him. Prepare a presentation to the class sharing your view on this phenomenon, either positive or negative, and prepare for counter opinions.

Written Work

1.Learn more about deism and theism and compose an essay introducing these two propositions as compared and contrasted with each other.

2.Probably most of us believe that man needs a faith or a worship of some kind for his well-being. In absence of a religion, where else can we find the faith? Cite some significant literature from traditional Chinese culture and explore whether our faith has the same power as any religion. Write a report about your findings.

3.In your journal, make a list of 10 doctrines from Buddhism and Christianity respectively and state in what ways these religious doctrines may help you live a better life.

4.Conduct a research through questionnaire investigating the status quo of your classmates’ knowledge about religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam or Hinduism. Design your own questionnaire and summarize the data you get in a report. Then share your findings with the class and ask for their reflections.