Reply #11: I might be bought, but depending on the terms, but maybe not. [View All]

[Silent3]

If I just had to "play the part" of a believer under a certain number of limited public circumstances, chances are I'd give into the temptation for some quick easy cash if the price was right. I wouldn't come cheap. The price would depend a great deal on just how much pretending to be a believer I had to do and under what circumstances.

If I was obligated to act the part of the believer in every way for the rest of my life, however, not even being able to post anonymously online as an atheist, not be able to speak in private as an atheist... I don't know if I could be bought off on those terms. That would require giving up a whole lot of who I am full time, and there might not be enough money to make that worthwhile.

The whole question reminds me a lot of this famous exchange:

At a dinner party one night, a drunken Churchill asked an attractive woman whether she would sleep with him for a million pounds. "Maybe," the woman said coyly. "Would you sleep with me for one pound?" Churchill then asked. "Of course not, what kind of woman do you think I am?" the woman responded indignantly. "Madam, we've already established what kind of woman you are," said Churchill, "now we're just negotiating the price."