Catholic during the Great Apostasy

Pascal’s Wager is, in short, a logical demonstration that faith is the wisest choice. It’s worth reading it in full, and then we’ll go further:
“God either exists or He does not. But which side shall we lean toward? Reason cannot help here – a chasm of chaos separates us. In this uncertainty, a game is being played: do you bet on God’s existence or His absence?

Reason provides no answer and defends neither choice. Some criticize those who have chosen, but I say: the mistake lies in the choice itself, for it’s best not to wager at all. Yet life forces us into the game – there’s no way out. So what should we do? Since you must choose, look at what you lose and what you gain. You have reason and happiness at stake, while avoiding error and misery. If you bet on God and win, you gain everything – eternity and happiness. If you lose, you lose only a finite life. If the odds are even and the reward infinite, logic demands you play. There’s no sense in clinging to life when the stake is an infinite gain, just as likely as losing nothing. They say: the risk is certain, the win uncertain. But in every game, you risk something certain for an uncertain gain – and that’s not unreasonable. The chance of an infinite reward outweighs a finite loss. It’s perfectly clear: if humans are capable of any truth at all, this is the truth.”

Pascal concluded these reflections with one of the most important questions that now often comes to mind:
Are people capable of accepting the truth?
Unfortunately, to a large extent, they are only capable of rejecting the truth!
The whole problem in interpreting this brilliant yet simple wager lies in the fact that we assume Pascal was proving that faith is the wiser choice, which is an obvious truth. However, looking at these considerations from the other side, we get a much clearer picture. Pascal, whether he intended it or not, proved the foolishness of the behavior of people who claim to be unbelievers.
Analyzing precisely that last sentence of the quote, or his other statements, one can conclude that he was well aware of what he had truly proven. Generally speaking, he didn’t have a very high opinion of human behavior, and thus of human thinking.
One of humanity’s greatest problems is the lack of reflection on the consequences of its actions, and even further, on its own blindness.
Looking, for example, at the French Revolution, we see wonderful slogans: liberty, equality, and fraternity, but we fail to notice that the guillotines worked day and night, and under the banners of that very revolution, genocide was committed in the Vendée. Abortion advocates also shout about freedom and have so many supporters, but who sees the true face of that freedom, i.e., the murder of unborn children up to the last day of pregnancy?
That’s why we should look at this wager from that other side. Those who make the right choices don’t need as much support as those who err – they need a wake-up call, and a brutal one, pointing out the stupidity of their actions.
It’s worth noting that now, those who promote “atheism” – and to call it plainly, not atheism but hatred of God – are actually striving to destroy all moral and, of course, social principles contained in the Ten Commandments.
Using Pascal’s method, it’s easy to prove the foolishness of such behavior, especially of those who don’t believe in God, because the healthy don’t need a doctor.
Let’s now consider the Ten Commandments, looking only from the perspective of the laws governing this world, from the viewpoint of those who reject faith:
Honor your father and your mother
Respect for parents strengthens family bonds and social harmony, which is a universally recognized moral norm. Lack of respect can lead to broken ties, guilt, and loneliness.
A study published in the Journal of Family Psychology (2013) showed that conflicts with parents during adolescence, including lack of respect and severed relationships, increase the risk of depression in adulthood by 25-30%. Individuals who didn’t resolve these conflicts more often reported feelings of isolation and reduced self-esteem.
You shall not kill
The prohibition of killing is the foundation of protecting life, consistent with universal human rights. Murder causes trauma, guilt, and fear, destroying both the perpetrator and the community.
A study in the American Journal of Psychiatry (2009) analyzing war veterans who killed in combat found that 40% of them experienced clinical depression within 5 years of the event, even if they acted in self-defense. Guilt and loss of moral identity were key factors. In the context of abortion, studies, e.g., in the Journal of Psychiatric Research (2011), indicate that women post-abortion have a 30% higher risk of depression and anxiety within a year, linked to feelings of loss and moral conflict.
You shall not commit adultery
Faithfulness supports trust and stability in relationships, consistent with moral norms of respect. Infidelity leads to shame, guilt, and distrust, both for the perpetrator and the victim.
A study in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy (2015) showed that individuals who committed infidelity had a 20% higher risk of depressive symptoms within a year of the event, tied to guilt and loss of closeness. Victims of infidelity reported even higher rates (35%).
You shall not steal
The prohibition of theft protects property and justice, forming the basis of social trust. Theft вызывает shame, fear of punishment, and isolation.
A study in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology (2017) showed that individuals with a history of petty theft (e.g., shoplifting) had a 15% higher risk of depression compared to a control group, linked to chronic stress from fear of exposure and social rejection.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
Truthfulness builds trust and protects reputation, consistent with norms of justice. Lying breeds stress, fear, and loss of authenticity.
A study in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (2014) found that individuals who regularly lied in interpersonal relationships (e.g., false accusations) had a 22% higher risk of depression, stemming from loss of social trust and internal moral conflict.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife
Control over desiring another’s wife supports respect for others’ relationships and boundaries, preventing destructive obsessions. Coveting leads to frustration, shame, obsession, and lowered self-esteem.
A study in the Journal of Affective Disorders (2018) showed that romantic jealousy (e.g., obsessive desire for someone else’s partner) was correlated with a 30% increased risk of depression in both men and women, especially when it led to rejection or conflicts.
You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor
The prohibition of coveting others’ goods promotes contentment, social balance, and restrains greed. Coveting causes dissatisfaction, stress, feelings of inadequacy, and tension in relationships.
A study in Social Psychological and Personality Science (2016) found that individuals with high levels of material envy (e.g., about others’ possessions) had a 28% higher risk of depression compared to those accepting their own state, tied to constant social comparison.
Commandments 4-10 align with universal moral and social norms, and violating them is associated with specific psychological consequences, including an increased risk of depression. Scientific studies confirm that breaching these principles – whether through family conflict, infidelity, theft, lying, or coveting – leads to stress, guilt, isolation, and loss of moral identity, which are known risk factors for depression.
Following the same path as Pascal, I’ve proven that a person who claims to be an unbeliever should, and even must, adhere to seven of the Ten Commandments – if only for their own mental health.
In short, ironclad logic shows that whether you’re a believer or not doesn’t matter – you should still act in accordance with the Decalogue.
Of course, I haven’t forgotten about the three most important commandments and their impact on our psyche. Salvation is the ultimate goal of every Christian, but today we’re looking from a different angle, proving the irrationality of the so-called atheists’ behavior.
Faith, especially in the context of religiosity, is often associated with improved mental health. Studies show that believers experience less depression, anxiety, and have a lower risk of suicide. For example:
A study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research (2011) found that individuals regularly participating in religious practices have a 20-30% lower risk of depression compared to non-believers, linked to a sense of purpose and social support that faith can offer.
A meta-analysis in the Handbook of Religion and Health (3rd edition, in preparation for 2025) summarizes over 1,200 studies from 1872-2000 and 2,100 from 2000-2010, showing that religiosity correlates with better stress management and lower addiction rates.
Faith provides an interpretive framework for difficult experiences (e.g., suffering), reducing feelings of chaos and helplessness. An example is prayer, which, according to Tanya Luhrmann (an anthropologist from Stanford), works similarly to cognitive-behavioral therapy, helping to reframe how one thinks about problems.
Dr. Andrew Newberg, a pioneer of neurotheology, in studies using fMRI (magnetic resonance imaging), showed that during prayer or meditation in believers (e.g., Catholic nuns), activity increases in the frontal lobes (responsible for focus and planning) and decreases in the parietal lobes (linked to spatial orientation). This explains the feeling of “transcendence” or “oneness with something greater.”

Faith, particularly in the context of religious communities, strengthens social bonds, which has a key impact on the mind:
A Gallup/Radiant Foundation study (2024) analyzing 30 million units of content found that 84% of people worldwide identify with a religion or spirituality, and believers report higher levels of well-being. Faith provides a sense of belonging, reducing loneliness and anxiety.
A study in Social Psychological and Personality Science (2016) showed that believers who regularly participate in rituals (e.g., celebrating a holy day) have 15-20% lower levels of chronic stress than non-believers, tied to a sense of stability and predictability.
“You shall have no other gods before Me”:
Faith in one God can provide worldview coherence, reducing cognitive chaos. Studies on the sense of purpose show that monotheism correlates with higher satisfaction levels (Froese and Bader, 2008).
“You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain”:
Respect for the sacred strengthens a sense of moral identity, supporting self-esteem and reducing cognitive dissonance.
“Remember to keep the holy day holy”:
Regular practices act as rituals, which, according to a study in the Journal of Affective Disorders (2018), lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone) by 10-15%.
Studies confirm that faith has a measurable impact on human minds – from changes in brain activity, through improved mental health, to strengthening social bonds.
The conclusion is now very clear. I only point out that I’ve hardly used any religious arguments, only logic and pure science. So the conclusion is singular – by rejecting what God has given us, you’re not modern, as today’s propaganda claims – you’re an unthinking opponent of yourself and science.
And where can one see rationalism in such behavior?
That’s something only Satan knows… and people.

Arkadiusz Niewolski