The numbers game...

Getting back to the OP . . .

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In the movie the voting is to choose the one representative of earth to ride in this machine that earth is building from a set of plans ‘faxed’ down to us from some unknown aliens.

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In this context, I think it is appropriate for one of the "95%" to be a REPRESENTATIVE of human culture. Religion or a belief in a deity is a defining characteristic of many peoples lives. I think it is legitimate to have a deist as a representative, or at least someone who is sympathetic to the mindset. Jodie Foster's character was not sympathetic to the religious mindset so the comment was not inappropriate.When arguing about "truth", an appeal to authority is totally inappropriate.

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Ok so we have decided to send a religious person to represent us to aliens, as they represent the majority of the population. So In this regard, which religious belief, do you choose to represent everyone else? Remember there is only one seat.

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My opinion is that the representative should be from one of the larger religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Christian, Islam, Judaism) and that the representative should also be well versed in the tenets of all of the major world religions. Just my opinion.