While I was reading, I couldn’t help but wonder how the challenge results would have changed if it was a credible offer. Of course, nobody actually believes that either side of the bargain would be realized. If actually given the opportunity to trade a life for $10,000, I suspect fewer people would accept. At least, I hope!
I wonder what the ones saying “yes” believe. If you do not believe there is a life after this, then of course why not. The amount is relatively small but not trivial. A good experiment would be to see how the responses vary by the amount offered?
If one believes in a life after death and the type of life is affected by our earthly choices, then I would expect a near unanimous “no” for any amount of money. There is the very poignant scene near the end of “Man for All Seasons” about Thomas More where he remarks about the man who betrayed him:
“That is a fine chain of office you are wearing Richard, may I see it?’
‘Master Rich has been made Attorney General for Wales’
‘Ahh but Richard it profits a man nothing to gain the whole world if he should loose his soul… but for Wales Richard?’”
Thanks for the interesting article!
While I was reading, I couldn’t help but wonder how the challenge results would have changed if it was a credible offer. Of course, nobody actually believes that either side of the bargain would be realized. If actually given the opportunity to trade a life for $10,000, I suspect fewer people would accept. At least, I hope!
Good article.
I wonder what the ones saying “yes” believe. If you do not believe there is a life after this, then of course why not. The amount is relatively small but not trivial. A good experiment would be to see how the responses vary by the amount offered?
If one believes in a life after death and the type of life is affected by our earthly choices, then I would expect a near unanimous “no” for any amount of money. There is the very poignant scene near the end of “Man for All Seasons” about Thomas More where he remarks about the man who betrayed him:
“That is a fine chain of office you are wearing Richard, may I see it?’
‘Master Rich has been made Attorney General for Wales’
‘Ahh but Richard it profits a man nothing to gain the whole world if he should loose his soul… but for Wales Richard?’”
Helpful ruminations to pierce the thin veneer that all of humanity is basically "good".