Pascal’s Political Triangle: A Bet on Theology-Political Power-War

the international and political journal

Authors

  • Prof. Dr. Ruqaya Saeed

Keywords:

Religious Wars, Theology, Political Power, Religious Reform.

Abstract

Pascal is considered one of the philosophers of the modern era and the pioneers of modern Western philosophy. Pascal distinguished between two types of knowledge: emotional knowledge and rational knowledge. Emotional (existential) knowledge is what establishes the main principles of rational knowledge, including logic, deduction, etc., and in his opinion, true knowledge is Which combines the spirit of creativity in the heart and conscience and the mind that scrutinizes and crystallizes it... But all proofs for him are emotional or heart proofs, as they are what constitute the basic principles, and on this basis Pascal separates between science based on rational processes and faith based on certainty and feeling. This is because the issue of God’s existence is a major issue that can only be known through the heart and feeling and not the mind, because for him God does not need scientific proofs for his existence, but only through deep emotional faith in Him. Without this faith - Pascal says - there is no meaning to man’s existence and value. Faith is the luminous lamp that illuminates this visible world.                                                                     

And Pascal in man: He says, “Man is a mysterious mystery or a deceptive creature, and he analyzes the depth of man and strips him of false, artificial morals. All people by nature hate each other, and man, from his many evils, created the concept of love, and established moral laws and constitutions to control his evils... and all of that.” A kind of falsehood.. We have no one but God to be saved from all evils.                                   

This view is according to Pascal’s bet about the existence of God and belief in Him.” He put forward this bet with absolute certainty and a deep emotional feeling that embodies the only evidence he had to prove the existence of God. Emotional belief in God constitutes, for Pascal “an unlimited profit in Paradise, and no “Faith is an unlimited loss in hell.” But the question is: What is the nature of that faith, as some of them asked Pascal? Is it the Christian religion? Are they Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, or believers other than this Christian religion, including Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and dozens of other religions? It is a question that still exists. A focus of conversation, thinking, and disagreement after Pascal and to this day, without going beyond the importance of the moral dimension, the common good, and staying away from evil as principles that it is necessary to adhere to and adhere to, regardless of the details of faith or non-belief specific to this or that person, as it is a specificity that is linked to the person concerned within the context of His personal convictions (believer or atheist), which should not contradict the principles of justice, virtue, morality, and rejection of all manifestations of exploitation and evil.                                                                              

Additional Files

Published

2025-04-04

How to Cite

ا.م.د.رقية سعيد خلخال. (2025). Pascal’s Political Triangle: A Bet on Theology-Political Power-War: the international and political journal . The International and Political Journal, 61, 179–191. Retrieved from https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/389