Paddy Power, an online betting outfit in the UK, is currently offering 4-1 odds that God exists. So far, about $5000 has been wagered on the question. Apparently, interest has increased as the result of an atheist ad campaign on London buses with the slogan: “There’s probably no God.”
Initially, odds that proof of God’s existence would be found were 20-1, spurred on by the development of the Hadron Collider and search for the supposed “God Particle.” When the multi-billion dollar atom smasher was shut down temporarily because of a magnetic failure, odds grew to 33-1 . But interest in the wager has increased following the recent launch of the ad campaign. So as a result of a flurry of small bets, Paddy Power has cut the odds on proof being found of God’s existence to 4-1.
According to the Telegraph article:
A spokesman for Paddy Power said that confirmation of God’s existence would have to be verified by scientists and given by an independent authority before any payouts were made…
As much as I like the odds, this isn’t a good bet. I mean, exactly how is “confirmation of God’s existence… verified by scientists”? Doesn’t this mean you’re really betting on scientists? Cuz frankly, their track record isn’t all that great. Heck, knowledge of the atomic and subatomic world is fairly recent, and still developing. And if there is a God who made the atoms, then wouldn’t He, by nature, be more profound? Greater? Maybe smaller? Furthermore, what exactly are we looking for? An old man on a throne in a distant galaxy? If that’s the case, maybe we haven’t developed telescopes big enough, or we aren’t looking in the right quadrant. But if God is a spirit, as the Bible teaches, do we even have the right tools to “see” Him?
Okay, the chances of winning that bet are slim. But heck, even those atheists running the ads don’t seem too sure. I mean, what’s up with “probably no God“? Is that a 99.9% probability or a 63.75% probability? Because if it involves heaven or hell, you might stand to lose a lot more than a few bucks. And either way, you’ll have to wait forever for a payout.
Tags: Atheism, Existence of God, Science and the Supernatural
Not exactly sure how the potential non-existence of God eliminates worry and magically produces a life that is worth living, in the first place.
It’s kind of like a sign on a winding mountain road: “Bridge Might Be Out Ahead – Don’t Worry and Enjoy the Plummet!”