In today’s highlight of relatively obscure webcomics, we’re highlighting Existential Comics, possibly one of the nerdiest comics around. It’s a once a week exploration of concepts of philosophy, often with an explanation. Here Corey is contrasting Pascal’s wager (arguably the beginning of decision theory) with Augustine.

Here’s the explanation under this comic:

“Pascal’s Wager” is the idea that you should rationally believe in God even if you don’t (how??). Because apparently God punishes those who don’t believe in him, and rewards those who do. And presumably you also have to live a certain kind of life, even if you don’t believe in God too.

Augustine had his own sort of “wager”, although it was never phrased that way, where he basically believed in God the whole time, but lived a sinful life until he God older, and repented. He even had the great phrase “Lord, make me good, but not yet”. Risky, because if you die halfway through you are tormented for all eternity for stealing pears or whatever. But then again God is all knowing so maybe he knows you are going to and you still get credit for that, so all you really have to do us genuinely intend to repent. Hard to say.

Alt-text: “‘Lord, make me good, but not yet’ is one of the funniest lines in the history of theology. Augustine was such a baller.”

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