Holy Roll

Nick Gillespie | November 23, 1999

When faced with the tough choice

of either seeking the truth at

the risk of his life or cozying

up to an all-powerful ruler in

return for comfort and security,

17th-century French

mathematician and problem

gambler Blaise Pascal didn't

think twice before doubling down

on the latter. "If God does not

exist, one will lose nothing by

believing in him, while if he

does exist, one will lose

everything by not believing,"

Pascal wrote famously, adding