Beyond the Wager: The Christian Brilliance of Blaise Pascal

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.

Douglas Groothuis (PhD, University of Oregon) is professor of philosophy at Denver Seminary. He is the author of numerous books, including Christian Apologetics, Fire in the Streets, Philosophy in Seven Sentences, Truth Decay, and Walking Through Twilight. He has written for scholarly journals including Religious Studies, Sophia, Research in Philosophy and Technology, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, and Philosophia Christi, as well as for numerous popular magazines.