Choosing a revelation -------------------------
The collection's full title, Pensées de M. Pascal sur la religion et sur quelques autres sujets, uses the singular for the word "religion". Pascal was nevertheless well aware that there were many revelations, as he himself wrote:
"I see multitudes of religions in many parts of the world and throughout history. But none has a morality that can please me or proofs compelling enough to sway me. And so I would have rejected equally the religion of Muhammad, that of China, that of the ancient Romans, and that of the Egyptians, for the sole reason that, since none bears greater marks of truth than another, and there is nothing to decide between them, reason cannot incline towards one rather than another."
The philosopher therefore set about dismantling non-Christian faiths, focusing on Islam and entitling one fragment "Against Muhammad". "Islam is founded on the Quran and Muhammad. But was this Prophet, who was to be the world's final hope, foretold? And what mark does he have that anyone wishing to call himself a Prophet would not also have? What miracles does he himself say he performed? What mystery did he teach, even according to his own tradition?"
Pascal's wager -----------------