Beyond the Wager: The Christian Brilliance of Blaise Pascal
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Blaise Pascal, the seventeenth-century French philosopher and scientist, is perhaps best known for his “wager,” an argument about the existence of God. But there was much more to Pascal and his brilliance.
In this accessible and well-documented study, philosopher Douglas Groothuis introduces readers to Pascal’s life as well as the breadth of his intellectual pursuits, including his contributions to mathematics, science, ethics, and theology. Groothuis overviews the key points of Pascal’s Pensées, which captures his thoughts about God, humanity, and Jesus Christ. Readers will also explore Pascal’s views on a range of topics, including culture, politics, Islam, and miracles.
Often quoted and often misunderstood, Pascal is a complex figure whose writings have charmed, puzzled, and inspired readers across the centuries. With guidance from a leading Christian thinker and longtime student of Pascal, Beyond the Wager takes you on a journey to discover the riches Pascal has to offer today.
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- Introduces readers to Pascal’s life as well as the breadth of his intellectual pursuits
- Examines his contributions to mathematics, science, ethics, and theology
- Explores Pascal’s views on a range of topics, including culture, politics, Islam, and miracles
- Preface
- 1. Blaise Pascal: Known and Unknown
- 2. A Short Life of Pascal
- 3. Scientist and Philosopher of Science
- 4. Theological Controversy
- 5. The Character and Plan of the Pensées
- 6. God: To Prove or Not to Prove
- 7. Skepticism and the Hidden God
- 8. Deposed Royalty
- 9. Jesus Christ: Miracles and Prophecy
- 10. The Excellence of Christ
- 11. Christianity, Mohammad, and the Jews
- 12. Wagering a Life on God
- 13. Pascal’s Critique of Culture and Politics
- Conclusion: A Christian Genius for the Ages
- Appendix: Descartes and Pascal Get into an Argument
I have been reading Blaise Pascal’s writings as well as other contemporary writers and apologists who have discussed Pascal and his ideas for at least three decades. Beyond the Wager: The Christian Brilliance of Blaise Pascal is one of the finest introductions to this amazing Christian thinker available. Douglas Groothuis’s fine book is both substantive and accessible—a must-read for all of us contemporary Pascalians.
—Kenneth Samples, senior scholar with Reasons to Believe
This is a stunningly good and meticulously researched yet lively look at the work of the pioneering Christian thinker Blaise Pascal. Groothuis masterfully does for a new generation what needs to be done over and over, introducing this creative mind anew to show the importance of his tremendous insights for our time, and all times.
—Tom Morris, author of Philosophy for Dummies and Making Sense of It All
Philosopher Douglas Groothuis has devoted decades to studying, teaching, and writing about Blaise Pascal, and it shows. Groothuis skillfully addresses Pascal’s fascinating life, scientific achievements, theological controversies, apologetic efforts, and more. His adept presentation of Pascal’s unique anthropological argument for Christianity is particularly superb. Beyond the Wager is an excellent resource for seasoned Pascal readers and those new to the compelling insights gleaned from the works of the French polymath.
—Robert Velarde, author of A Visual Defense: The Case For and Against Christianity
- Title: Beyond the Wager: The Christian Brilliance of Blaise Pascal
- Author: Douglas Groothuis
- Publisher: IVP Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2024
- Logos Release Date: 2025
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- Subjects: Science; Philosophy; Pascal, Blaise
- ISBNs: 9781514001783, 1514001780
- Resource ID: LLS:WGRCHRSTNBLPSCL
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-02-26T14:01:45Z
Douglas R. Groothuis (PhD, Philosophy, University of Oregon) is professor of philosophy at Denver Seminary in Denver, Colorado. He has also been a visiting professor or adjunct faculty member at Fuller Theological Seminary (Colorado Springs extension), Metropolitan State College of Denver, Westminster Theological Seminary (California campus), University of Oregon, New College Berkeley and Seattle Pacific University. His articles have been published in professional journals such as Religious Studies, Sophia, Theory and Research in Education, Philosophia Christi, Themelios, Think: A Journal of the Royal Institute of Philosophy, Christian Scholar's Review, Inquiry and Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. He has written several books, including Truth Decay, In Defense of Natural Theology (coeditor), Unmasking the New Age, Jesus in an Age of Controversy, Deceived by the Light, The Soul in Cyberspace, and, in the Wadsworth Philosophers Series, On Pascal and On Jesus.
Reviews
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AdSeptem
8/4/2024
I wish I could leave a review for this book, but, as of writing this comment, the book is still 'In production.' I pre-ordered the book on January 21st, the book was released on April 2nd, and now it's August 4th, and the book is yet to be released. I reached out and asked the live-service why the book was delayed. The response was about how it takes time to format the book with the Logos platform and service. While that seemed reasonable and at least a month has passed since that interaction, I wonder why the book is still not available. I'm a student of the author, and I am looking forward to finally getting my hands on the book. Please, Logos, help make this book available as soon as possible.