Scepticism Inc
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Edgar Malroy would be considered a hero to readers of Scepticism Inc. Edgar literally took money from the rich churches and gave to the poor. This Robin Hood image brings Edgar to the spotlight as a champion of sorts and the reader ends up rooting for him throughout the story. The means by which Edgar took the money was, on the surface, legitimate. However, the bet could never be won and the emotions of the betters influenced their decision-making abilities. Can a person taking a wager, in good conscience, accept this bet when no definitive outcome can be reached? Is it allowable for Edgar to take this money, knowing that it could never be won back, and then use it for good purposes?
The churches that are placing the bets appear to be the foolish victims. The reader does not necessarily feel sorry for them though. Through our own experiences, the churches take tithing from its congregation supposedly to support the routine maintenance of the building, pay the salaries of the office staff, and support the meager lifestyle of the priest, reverend, father or head-guy-in-charge. Most Congregationalist do not ask where the excess goes, they do not have to ask, announcements are made weekly about the churchs good deeds and how they were able to feed and clothe the needy. Yet, these religious bodies are some of the wealthiest institutions in the world. Third world countries are thought to have the highest percentages of believers, and in the story they are. These people are also among the worlds poorest and uneducated. These masses of struggling people weekly buy the lotto ticket that the church is selling. This lotto, salvation and heaven, can not ever be won, nor can the jackpot be proven to exist. Nor can the church prove that they are authorized lotto ticket distributors. They rely on the emotions and acceptance of their followers, and routinely ask them to give money to support their cause. They are taxing the poor and becoming more wealthy and powerful because of it. They even ask their Congregationalists to give them more money in order to place higher bets.
Both Edgar and the religions of the world would fall under the same criticism from Clifford. Although the churches are giving their money to Edgar in proof of their unverifiable beliefs, and the churches sell redemption to their parishioners by convincing them that it is advantageous to give their money to the church. Both are perpetuating fraud and it is wrong under any circumstance. Clifford states in The Ethics of Belief:
If I steal money from any person, there may be no harm done by the mere transfer of possession; he may not feel the loss, or it may prevent him from using the money badly. But I cannot