Re: 5 million dollars to change religion

[Infected Mushroom]

Also, I didn't realise British Columbia had a reputation for being an expensive place to live, but good to know.

The joke among locals in British Columbia is that it stands for "Bring Cash." Broadly speaking, its considered to be Canada's most expensive province to live in. Vancouver is a world class city that attracts so many people, but because of that- it is going to cost someone to have the privilege of staying there. Fort St. John is a small city within British Columbia with around 20,000 people but again- super prosperous and expensive. Average household income there breaks $100,000+/year.

It's a very depressing city.

I watched my life get washed away by the rain while I was there... and I grew very sad.

And yes, things are expensive. To make things even worse, it rains for the vast majority of the year. British isles levels of hard rain...

[The New California Republic]

Really? Is that true? Idk man, I just find that hard to imagine. At least amongst everyone I know personally (my friends are all single and unmarried, oldest one is 23) they generally spend between US$400-600,000 a year, adding up rent/mortgage payments, car, petroleum, utilities, clothing, restaurants, vacations, insurance, and what not, which is how I got to the figure of '10 years' when I added it up quickly in my head.

And of course if you're talking about parents with children (my own parents being my only reference point for this) the cost gets much much higher, like my mom especially always loves reminding me (in a joking tone obvi) how much it cost to raise my brother and I, the per annum cost exceeded like US$1-2 million easily.

Sorry but the scenario cannot be expected to account for lifestyles with incomings and outgoings in the grand scheme of things that are statistical outliers, such as trust fund kids and the like.

[Infected Mushroom]

$5 million? Too small, IM.

How much do you want?

I seek feedback so that future monetary rewards for other hypotheticals can be adjusted

What do you think is a better number?

[Chan Island]

No way would I put my life's savings into the hands of someone with a vested interest in judging that I did not do enough to advance my "new religion." Silly question really.

That's a big point IM hasn't addressed. There's no way some of us could ever pull off convincing others that we have changed religion.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Not changing my lack of religious beliefs. Already was a christian, no interest in being one again, nor to become a muslim.

[Heloin]

Not changing my lack of religious beliefs. Already was a christian, no interest in being one again, nor to become a muslim.

You could be Jewish.

[Infected Mushroom]

No way would I put my life's savings into the hands of someone with a vested interest in judging that I did not do enough to advance my "new religion." Silly question really.

That's a big point IM hasn't addressed. There's no way some of us could ever pull off convincing others that we have changed religion.

I assumed it would just be judged objectively by an omniscient and omnipotent force (a sort of deified IM operating in the hypo-verse, the same one that teleports things in and out of existence, creates alternate timelines/worlds and alters/clarifies the laws of the scenarios)

[The New California Republic]

That's a big point IM hasn't addressed. There's no way some of us could ever pull off convincing others that we have changed religion.

I assumed it would just be judged objectively by an omniscient and omnipotent force (a sort of deified IM operating in the hypo-verse, the same one that teleports things in and out of existence, creates alternate timelines/worlds and alters/clarifies the laws of the scenarios)

I'm still laundering the money and disappearing regardless.

[Big Jim P]

Please consider this on-its-surface-very-simple (but really, quite complicated) hypothetical:

You will be paid 5 million dollars if you change your religion (or adopt a new religion if you're currently non-religious). You can only choose between Christianity and Islam and very specifically, only the three largest denominations of either (so 6 options in total).

If you're already a Christian though, you have to choose one of the 3 Islamic choices. If you're already Islamic, you have to choose one of the 3 Christian choices.

If you "take the deal" you have to do the following:

1. Actively choose to believe in the new religion for at least a nearly continuous period of 10 years
2. For those 10 years, actively practice the new religion
3. Fo those 10 years, actively proselytise the new religion to all friends and family, old and new
4. Fo those 10 years, actively present yourself as a practitioner of the new religion to all friends and family, old and new

If you "take the deal" but fail to do 1-4 fo an accumulated period, then the deal may be revoked. When it does get revoked, the penalty is that you not only instantly lose the 5 million but also all of you money and all of your family's money... EVERYTHING. ALL GONE.

So think wisely.

Would you take the deal? Yes or no?

Now having said that, I believe the options come down to this:

1. No, my religious status is not for sale
2. No, it's unethical to gamble with my family's entire fortune
3. I would like to do it but I say No because I don't think it's possible to do one or more of terms 1-5 (ex Belief is not choice)
4. Yes, and it sounds easy
5. Yes, even though 1-5 is going to take some serious work

For the purposes of the hypothetical, assume the 5 million dollars is exempt from the laws of taxation and 100% legal (you can keep all of it).

Please choose an option and then discuss why it is the most reasonable, morally correct, and/or economically viable option. Feel free to debate with others.

I would choose Option 5. However, it's going to be really really hard to tell my brain, "hey listen up, this new religion is now 100% real. START TALKING TO GOD!" However, with some persistence, I could get started on this 10 year thing. But I have every inclination to believe it's going to be hell hard.

Option 1. Especially not for just half a million a year.

[Ifreann]

How do they spend that much at that age? In my neck of the woods a single male needs about 40k a year assuming sticker price for everything and no roommates, and that he doesn't tolerate a bad part of town and needs a reasonable cushion.
Change any of that and it's less.

I mean, I can't really itemise it in more detail than the list I gave, but the bulk of it really are the mortgage payments, utilities, restaurants, clothing, and vacations. I honestly can't imagine spending only US$40,000 per annum but I guess that's just me, and anyways I'm sure its possible if things are just much cheaper in your city or town.

Imagine being so bad with money that every year you're spending enough on restaurants and clothes to buy a house outright and you still have a mortgage.

[La Xinga]

I will never!! This is like a son running away from his father who keeps him living every second for 5 million.

[Infected Mushroom]

I am very very surprised that while the majority of NSG is willing to sell their right to vote, only a minority would be willing to sell their religious beliefs

does this mean that religion > voting rights?

Am I reading this correctly?

[Dylar]

I am very very surprised that while the majority of NSG is willing to sell their right to vote, only a minority would be willing to sell their religious beliefs

does this mean that religion > voting rights?

Am I reading this correctly?

Yes

[Ifreann]

I am very very surprised that while the majority of NSG is willing to sell their right to vote, only a minority would be willing to sell their religious beliefs

does this mean that religion > voting rights?

Am I reading this correctly?

Of course you aren't reading it correctly. Thread polls are not representative of anything.

[Infected Mushroom]

I am very very surprised that while the majority of NSG is willing to sell their right to vote, only a minority would be willing to sell their religious beliefs

does this mean that religion > voting rights?

Am I reading this correctly?

Of course you aren't reading it correctly. Thread polls are not representative of anything.

how come?

[Rojava Free State]

Not changing my lack of religious beliefs. Already was a christian, no interest in being one again, nor to become a muslim.

You could be Jewish.

They can't even pull the weak excuse of "well that was the old testament but our new testament is peaceful." That's the only part of their bible

[Ifreann]

Of course you aren't reading it correctly. Thread polls are not representative of anything.

how come?

Well as you may be aware, it is a trivial matter for someone to make dozens of throwaway nations to vote in a poll and skew the results. Like that time someone made IM99 - IM150.

[Rojava Free State]

Of course you aren't reading it correctly. Thread polls are not representative of anything.

how come?

because you aren't polling everyone on NS. You're polling whoever clicks this thread and they may not be the same people who said they would sell their voting rights, so it's a biased and unrepresentative sample.

[Rojava Free State]

I mean, I can't really itemise it in more detail than the list I gave, but the bulk of it really are the mortgage payments, utilities, restaurants, clothing, and vacations. I honestly can't imagine spending only US$40,000 per annum but I guess that's just me, and anyways I'm sure its possible if things are just much cheaper in your city or town.

Imagine being so bad with money that every year you're spending enough on restaurants and clothes to buy a house outright and you still have a mortgage.

Donald Trump is that you?

[Rojava Free State]

That's a big point IM hasn't addressed. There's no way some of us could ever pull off convincing others that we have changed religion.

I assumed it would just be judged objectively by an omniscient and omnipotent force (a sort of deified IM operating in the hypo-verse, the same one that teleports things in and out of existence, creates alternate timelines/worlds and alters/clarifies the laws of the scenarios)

Wouldn't such an Eldritch horror not even care if they believe or even if they exist? Lmao

[Nagatar Karumuttu Chettiar]

The promise of salvation and the Kingdom, and bringing it to others is infinitely more valuable than money.

EDIT: To those who are Christian and would choose four or five, the greatest sin is to steal salvation from others. You are, in essence, taking money to steal salvation and mislead people. It says you have to evangelise others with your new religion.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

My faith is unshakeable, incorruptible, and definitely NOT for sale.

And there is nothing in all the universe that could change that. No deal

[Chan Island]

That's a big point IM hasn't addressed. There's no way some of us could ever pull off convincing others that we have changed religion.

I assumed it would just be judged objectively by an omniscient and omnipotent force (a sort of deified IM operating in the hypo-verse, the same one that teleports things in and out of existence, creates alternate timelines/worlds and alters/clarifies the laws of the scenarios)

In which case I'm changing my religion anyway, because that sounds a lot like God.

[Kowtowannia]

$5 million? Too small, IM.

How much do you want?

I seek feedback so that future monetary rewards for other hypotheticals can be adjusted

What do you think is a better number?

At least $10 billion.

[Gloweo]

Sure...5 million can help a lot