A friend of mine wrote a book where he challenges the notion of Christians asking the question, “What if you were to die tonight?” And instead asks, “What if you were to live tomorrow?” I referenced this book at the end of my post. In essence, it turns Pascal’s wager on it’s head as you suggest.

I haven’t been by your blog in a long while, but I thought to stop by tonight (nothing like having work to do to remind you to take time doing more carefree things). I’m glad to see you are still searching in earnest, and writing so nakedly and thoughtfully.

In most complex endeavors, having doubt rooted in humility (not fear) is a good thing, an acknowledgment of past failures and a desire to not repeat them.

As you know, I am a non-believer. A kind-hearted believer might pity me, and suspect that I’m a poorer person for not seeing God’s presence all around me.

But what I conclude from your penultimate paragraph is your faith (a.k.a. belief in a reality that transcends what you can touch, see or feel) has somehow robbed you of an appreciation of the here and now. You asked, “Is there a way of life that is worth living?”, presumably in absence of God.

There is the famous argument known as Pascal’s Wager, which you undoubtedly have heard: one might as well believe in God, for if he doesn’t exist, one hasn’t lost much, but if He does exist, your belief will be worth the investment. It’s a truly cynical argument, but there are people whose “faith” is based on it.

Well, how about inverting Pascal’s Wager? Whether or not God is there after we die, for now you are here on Earth, so make the most of it. Don’t discount the beauty and pleasures of the worldly plane because they don’t measure up to the perfect never ending glory promised in the afterlife.

So in answer to your question, “”Is there a way of life that is worth living?” [without faith], I assure you there are many millions of people who are living it, happily.