If you found out, irrefutibably, that there was a God and a Devil, would you do the Faustian Deal?

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
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You know, sell your soul for wealth and power?

You're either doing it or not.

Despite my Roman Catholic upbringing (13 years of going to Our Lady of the Bleeding Knuckles school, Sister Mary Vicious, Principal) I gave up on organized religion many (as in more than 15) years ago. I still wonder about Heaven and Hell, God and Devil, Good and Evil, etc.

If you had the chance...to be wealthy...to be...untouchable, but yet still physically healthy..all for a price...YOUR SOUL. Would you do it?

I do not know what I would do. Honestly. I don't know. I despise this world...or moreso, the world I was born into. I value money above all things...tied w/my personal physical health...money is a dead-heat.

How about you....got a soul to sell?
 

ScottyB

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2002
6,677
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No, I would do the same thing that I am doing now, which is going to heaven.
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
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No, balance 50 years of happiness against millenia of it, and (more important to me) balance doing Good against doing Evil.

However, for some interpretations of Christianity I'd have to become a conscientous objector -- the idea that God would condemn a Buddhist who lived a good life to eternal torment because he didn't take the sacrement is abhorrent to me. I'd spit in the eye of that God.
 

Shockwave

Banned
Sep 16, 2000
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I would have to tour Hell first before I could decide. If its as bad as they make it out to be, no. If its full of self fulfillment and sinful acts, such as wanton sex and drug use and crazy acts of violence, then HELL YES WHERE DO I SIGN!!
 

LethalWolfe

Diamond Member
Apr 14, 2001
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Originally posted by: MichaelD
Thank you for that long, expounding post, Dparker.

That's what you get for asking a "yes" or "no" question.

BTW, my answer is no. :)


Lethal
 

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,019
156
106
A few years of material goods vs. an eternity of torment? I don't think so. The question is flawed, because it implies you can't be happy if you follow God. The whole "wealth and power" trip doesn't work either, since people who value those above all else end up miserable because someone else always has more.

People who charge up horrendous balance on their credit cards have a small glimpse of that bargain, except Satan doesn't let you have a bankruptcy loophole.
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
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Originally posted by: Shockwave
I would have to tour Hell first before I could decide. If its as bad as they make it out to be, no. If its full of self fulfillment and sinful acts, such as wanton sex and drug use and crazy acts of violence, then HELL YES WHERE DO I SIGN!!
LOL, I can see Satan's commercials at half time: "Come to Hell, it's GTA Vice City 24/7! Sign up now for bonus cheat codes!"

 

HappyPuppy

Lifer
Apr 5, 2001
16,997
2
71
No. Although I don't attend church, I do believe in a higher power that allows us to make our own choices. I would rather be poor and worship my higher power than wealthy and knowing I was going to suffer for it later.
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
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Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Originally posted by: Shockwave
I would have to tour Hell first before I could decide. If its as bad as they make it out to be, no. If its full of self fulfillment and sinful acts, such as wanton sex and drug use and crazy acts of violence, then HELL YES WHERE DO I SIGN!!
LOL, I can see Satan's commercials at half time: "Come to Hell, it's GTA Vice City 24/7! Sign up now for bonus cheat codes!"

Now THAT is funny. :D I see much amusement.

If the original question is flawed...I feel badly...I wanted such a perfect post/question. :(

It's a personal choice, obviously...I'm just checking heads, that's all. <--if you don't know what that means, there are no homosexual overtones involved in that statement.
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
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Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
No. Although I don't attend church, I do believe in a higher power that allows us to make our own choices. I would rather be poor and worship my higher power than wealthy and knowing I was going to suffer for it later.

Ahh... the delights I can show you in this world..... (Hellraiser quote)
 

HappyPuppy

Lifer
Apr 5, 2001
16,997
2
71
Originally posted by: MichaelD
Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
No. Although I don't attend church, I do believe in a higher power that allows us to make our own choices. I would rather be poor and worship my higher power than wealthy and knowing I was going to suffer for it later.

Ahh... the delights I can show you in this world..... (Hellraiser quote)



No doubt. Honestly, I don't really think there is anything after death. It's just over. To be on the safe side, though, I hedge my bets.
 

Riprorin

Banned
Apr 25, 2000
9,634
0
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the idea that God would condemn a Buddhist who lived a good life to eternal torment because he didn't take the sacrement is abhorrent to me. I'd spit in the eye of that God.

Just curious, how do you define a "good life".
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
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Originally posted by: EngineNr9
I value money above all things

Is that healthy?

I don't know...I'd be too busy buying a beautiful house with an Olympic Size pool (with a 1,200 sq ft bathhouse next to it) to be worrying about the possible complications.
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
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Originally posted by: Riprorin
the idea that God would condemn a Buddhist who lived a good life to eternal torment because he didn't take the sacrement is abhorrent to me. I'd spit in the eye of that God.

Just curious, how do you define a "good life".
For the sake of argument, let us suppose this Buddhist obeys the Ten Commandments (except in "worshipping false idols" I suppose), does not sin in any other way (except for not attending Christian church services), works at a hospital to help heal the sick, volunteers to read to blind children, helps old folks cross the street. Pile on as many other good acts cliches as you can think of.

Yet to a fundamentalist Christian, this Buddhist should spend eternity in torment?
 

Pilsnerpete

Platinum Member
Apr 4, 2002
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Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Originally posted by: Riprorin
the idea that God would condemn a Buddhist who lived a good life to eternal torment because he didn't take the sacrement is abhorrent to me. I'd spit in the eye of that God.

Just curious, how do you define a "good life".
For the sake of argument, let us suppose this Buddhist obeys the Ten Commandments (except in "worshipping false idols" I suppose), does not sin in any other way (except for not attending Christian church services), works at a hospital to help heal the sick, volunteers to read to blind children, helps old folks cross the street. Pile on as many other good acts cliches as you can think of.

Yet to a fundamentalist Christian, this Buddhist should spend eternity in torment?


God is the final judge. He knows the thoughts and motives of the heart. I mean, who am I to say whether or not someone is going to heaven or hell (that is, if they're not already there)?


Pete
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
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This thread reminds me that I need to watch The Phantom of the Paradise again! :D