Is Revelation Necessary for Our True Happiness?
Pascal’s Examination of Nature’s Defect and God’s Grace

Peini Feng BC ‘26

In this special edition of Abby’s Coffeehouse, student scholar Peini Feng will explore Pascal’s thoughts on nature, grace, and revelation.

In Pascal’s Pensées, he has an explicit plan for his writing: “First Part: Wretchedness of man without God. Second part: Happiness of man with God”. Following his thread, this talk will try to explain why we cannot be happy with any human means and can be happy only with God’s grace. Pascal argues that we can know the corruption and defect of nature by examining nature itself and also know there is a redeemer by investigating the Scripture. But these investigations are not sufficient for our true happiness without God’s grace and His direct touch in our hearts. In the end, we will come to Pascal’s answer to the essential question that we all care about: How can we attain true happiness?