I would like to propose what I’m going to call the “you owe
me money” test. It's a test for arguments for religion that can help us decide
if they're worth serious consideration. It's very simple. If you would take the
argument seriously if someone made it for you owing them money, then it deserves
consideration as an argument for religion. If you would not take it seriously if
someone used it as an argument for you owing them money, then it doesn't
deserve consideration as an argument for religion.
In this test, “money” stands in for “belief in and/or obligation
to” a religion.
Let's look at some examples.
Last Thursdayism
Argument for religion:
The world is really only 6000 years old and not as old as it
looks. God made the world look older than it is, and implanted false memories
of a history going back thousands of years before He created the world.
The mabul really
happened, was really a devastating worldwide flood, and God planted evidence of
uninterrupted civilizations and implanted false memories of those civilizations
in people's heads.
You owe me money:
I know you don't remember owing me anything, but that's
because you've had false memories implanted in your head. Not just you, but
everybody (except for me).
Would you pay me if I made that argument?
Prayer
Argument for religion:
You owe gratitude to God because He always answers your
prayers. Sometimes He answers yes, and He makes things work out so that you get
what you want. Sometimes He answers no or not now, and so you don't get what
you ask for. But He's always listening and always gives you the answer that He knows
is best for you.
You owe me money:
You need to pay me for my request-fulfilment service.
Whenever you ask for something, or wish for something really hard, I hear, and I
always answer you. Sometimes I answer yes, and I arrange things behind the scenes
so that things work out and you get what you want. Sometimes, I know that you
what you’re asking for isn't good for you, so I answer no, and you don't get
what you want. But I’m always listening and I always give you the answer that I
know what's best for you. So you need to pay me my service fee.
Would you pay me if I made that argument?
And so on.
