# Can you sell somebody else's soul to the devil? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 10, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709 "2010-12-10T21:56:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/61 "2010-12-18T21:59:43Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > You seriously think it’s a technical issue. Come on. That site will NEVER work properly. Do you really think Satan is going to tolerate the competition? I thought Satan would have a basic sense of fairness. ---
**Author:** ![RomeoAndRosaline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e36b37/32.png) [@RomeoAndRosaline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RomeoAndRosaline)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/62 "2010-12-19T15:36:23Z")
When I was in elementary school, inspired by that episode of The Simpsonsn (as most great plans are) I bought a kid’s soul for a pencil. Never gave it much thought until now. What do you think I could get for it? ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/63 "2010-12-20T16:24:19Z")
I agree that I think the idea of selling your soul to the devil is that when you die you will go to hell hands down, no questions asked. If you are evil enough to say, sell other people’s souls, there is still the chance of a death bed conversion. The Devil might think “Hey, this guy is going to be mine anyways” but what if tomorrow you have a vision from God (Allah, Buddha, whomever) and repent? He’d be out one soul. If you already sold it though, becoming the Pope wouldn’t help; you already made the deal. On a side note, do you think that would come up on a background check when considering someone to take the papacy? Could you sell your soul to become the Pope? > [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Selling the souls of others for your threesome raises the specter of rape - what if Satan fulfills the bargaining by so manipulating the minds of the ladies Dawson and Q that they cannot really consent. I can see him pulling a trick like that. What exactly do you mean by “threesome?” While they are living? At what age? While you are drunk and won’t remember it? In public? Try to find a non-lawyer to check the paperwork. I can see a new story “The Devil and Judge Judy.” ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/64 "2010-12-20T16:32:59Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > Could you sell your soul to become the Pope? It’s a requirement! ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/65 "2010-12-20T16:56:22Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If it was the case that merely agreeing to the sale was sufficient to cause your damnation, why would the devil ever bother fulfilling his end of the bargain? He’d have acquired your soul as soon as you signed and have no need to pay you anything now. No, no no. You’ve got it all wrong. Satan doesn’t want the soul, exactly. He wants to spread sin and evil throughout the world. He doesn’t begrudgingly fulfill your desires; he delights in it. It’s his way of getting back at ole Yahweh. The fact that he takes custody of your immortal soul is just a byproduct of that. Room and board is expensive in hell. You think he actually wants the spectre of you hanging around, breathing his sulfur and taking up the best brimstone? No, siree! It’s just what he has to put up with as payment for that one night of revelry. You know how, when you go on Craigslist to find some maybe-underage, down on their luck girls so you can pretend to ride a white horse but really you just want the sex, and you wake up with the herp? It’s like that. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > the actual appearance of the devil to consumate the deal would be enough to make me renege. Well, it’s not hard to summon the devil nowadays. Just find yourself some good details. I hear he hangs out there, particularly in credit card statements and cable subscription paperwork. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/66 "2010-12-20T17:27:55Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m thinking apparently not. In the majority of the “deal with the devil” stories I’m familiar with, the seller always expresses regret and repentance at some point. But it’s never shown as being enough to overturn the deal. I think most stories with a Faustian deal don’t have a very active participation of God. If God does get involved, I think “oh fuck, what have I got myself into” isn’t sufficient for repentance, you probably have to do your best to make amends. And then maybe God will provide you with a clever “out” in the terms and conditions? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/67 "2010-12-20T18:28:04Z")
BTW, OP, how does one contact the Devil? I have some business opportunities that he might be interested in. ---
**Author:** ![bugme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc79bd/32.png) [@bugme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bugme)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/68 "2010-12-20T22:48:27Z")
If the street value of a soul is $5 then you’re positing that that your celeb three-way fantasy is only worth 10 bucks? Fat chance. Why would the devil go through all the effort to make your fantasy a reality when all he has to do is drop down $10 cash to acquire two souls himself? My guess is that the devil has bought up all the $5 souls available thus driving the price up. Or if he hasn’t then there’s a reason a $5 soul isn’t particularly valuable or useful to him. And if the latter is the case, then you’re certainly not trading two of them for a three-way. ---
**Author:** ![Carlos\_Spicy\_Weiner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@Carlos\_Spicy\_Weiner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carlos_Spicy_Weiner)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/69 "2010-12-21T07:49:17Z")
The devil has morals ? and hates competition. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/70 "2010-12-21T07:58:42Z")
> [@bugme](#): > > If the street value of a soul is $5 then you’re positing that that your celeb three-way fantasy is only worth 10 bucks? Fat chance. Why would the devil go through all the effort to make your fantasy a reality when all he has to do is drop down $10 cash to acquire two souls himself? Because he blew all his cash on instant lotto tickets? And I hear investing in solid gold fiddles gets expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/71 "2010-12-21T16:11:33Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > No, no no. You’ve got it all wrong. Satan doesn’t want the soul, exactly. He wants to spread sin and evil throughout the world. He doesn’t begrudgingly fulfill your desires; he delights in it. It’s his way of getting back at ole Yahweh. The fact that he takes custody of your immortal soul is just a byproduct of that. I have to disagree with this. All the evidence is that the devil cares about souls a lot more than he cares about the condition of the world. If anything, I think you’ve got the situation backwards. Satan causes sin and evil in the world as a means of acquiring souls. If a situation arises where the devil can acquire a soul by means of spreading love and happiness, he’ll do that instead. God and the devil have near omnipotent power over conditions on Earth. So why would those conditions hold any meaning for them? They know how transient they are - whatever one of them can do, the other can undo. So my guess is they compete for souls because souls are the one thing that’s immune to their direct control. They can’t take a soul - it has to be given. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/72 "2010-12-21T16:16:30Z")
> [@bugme](#): > > If the street value of a soul is $5 then you’re positing that that your celeb three-way fantasy is only worth 10 bucks? Fat chance. Why would the devil go through all the effort to make your fantasy a reality when all he has to do is drop down $10 cash to acquire two souls himself? > > My guess is that the devil has bought up all the $5 souls available thus driving the price up. Or if he hasn’t then there’s a reason a $5 soul isn’t particularly valuable or useful to him. And if the latter is the case, then you’re certainly not trading two of them for a three-way. Sure the devil could go around with a sackful of five dollar bills picking up cheap souls. But it’s easier for him if middlemen like myself consolidate these easy purchases and then offer them to him in bulk. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/73 "2010-12-21T16:18:04Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I have to disagree with this. All the evidence is that the devil cares about souls a lot more than he cares about the condition of the world. I have never understood this aspect of religion. Why are God or Satan obsessed with souls? What do they get out of collecting them? Worship? That is such a vain, feckless thing to base the meaning of life on. I sometimes wish there was a God so I could kick Him in the Balls. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/74 "2010-12-21T17:38:26Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I have never understood this aspect of religion. Why are God or Satan obsessed with souls? What do they get out of collecting them? Worship? That is such a vain, feckless thing to base the meaning of life on. I sometimes wish there was a God so I could kick Him in the Balls. As I posted, I think it’s the sport. Souls are the one thing a diety can’t have just for the asking - they have to work for a soul. ---
**Author:** ![randomchimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/0ea827/32.png) [@randomchimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randomchimp)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/75 "2010-12-23T17:27:18Z")
Dunno if you can get the 3-way deal from Satan, but you can make some cash… [http://kembrew.com/prank/selling-my-soul/](http://kembrew.com/prank/selling-my-soul/) ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/76 "2010-12-23T18:25:59Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I think you’re going to hell in that deal, regardless of the terms of your contract with the Devil, for one pretty simple fact: you’re willing to condemn people to _an eternity of constant suffering_ for your own personal gain. That’s just about as evil an act as I can imagine. Little Nemo, this is the answer. Do you have a counter to this? (Maybe I missed it.) You may have the legitimate right to sell that person’s soul, but your decision to do so (when you can choose not to) is about the worst violation of the Golden Rule I can imagine. Even if your premise that the act of selling the soul is not a per se damnable offense that cannot be undone, _your_ scenario simultaneously and deliberately screws over somebody else. Seriously, have your attorneys advise you on this. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/77 "2010-12-24T13:06:13Z")
A question: do I actually have to _own_ the souls, or does it work if I’ve merely _captured_ them? Say using some kind of [soul harvester](http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1662#comic)? Is that so far against the rules that it won’t work (like trying to break the laws of physics), or is it more like a slave raid—still reprehensible, but I can still pull it off if no one actually steps in to stop me? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/78 "2010-12-24T16:36:09Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Little Nemo, this is the answer. Do you have a counter to this? (Maybe I missed it.) > > You may have the legitimate right to sell that person’s soul, but your decision to do so (when you can choose not to) is about the worst violation of the Golden Rule I can imagine. Even if your premise that the act of selling the soul is not a per se damnable offense that cannot be undone, _your_ scenario simultaneously and deliberately screws over somebody else. Seriously, have your attorneys advise you on this. I think I covered this point in post #5. My belief is that there are two methods of getting your soul damned. One is through committing sins and the other is contractual. So the issue is whether entering into a contract to sell your soul is itself a sin. Which I argued is not the case. Because if it was, then the devil would have no need to deliver his end of the bargains he signs - he would have already gained the souls just by signing the contract. And the evidence is this isn’t true - the devil does pay up and if he fails the contract is void and the soul is saved. So obviously contracting to sell a soul isn’t a sin. And if it’s not a sin for a person to sell their soul, why would it be a sin for a third party to participate in the sale of a soul? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/79 "2010-12-24T16:39:29Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > A question: do I actually have to _own_ the souls, or does it work if I’ve merely _captured_ them? Say using some kind of [soul harvester](http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1662#comic)? Is that so far against the rules that it won’t work (like trying to break the laws of physics), or is it more like a slave raid—still reprehensible, but I can still pull it off if no one actually steps in to stop me? I think that even assuming your soul could be removed without your consent, the lack of consent would render any subsequent transactions involving that soul null and void. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709/80 "2010-12-24T20:10:12Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > If you repent and ask forgiveness, is it not in God’s power to nullify the deal? Read Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon’s short story, “Small Print”, for a take on that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-sell-somebody-elses-soul-to-the-devil/563709.md?page=5)