Mojotronica
Expect Irony.
In popular movies and literature, selling your soul to the Devil is as easy as signing a contract in blood.
No additional sin is necessary, which helps justify the typical loophole the temporarily damned protagonist uses to weasel out of the commitment.
Usually these stories are intended as gentle nudges -- the Devil is a big liar who offers you a deal, and when you take it he CAN'T HELP but to break it (because he lies) in a way adheres to the letter of the contract but opens up a slim possibility to escape f/ the deal. And the protagonist reforms and escapes.
***
I was thinking that selling your soul should be more final than that -- it should be stated involve something akin to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, an irredeemable sin.
And as a storytelling device, to hammer home the utter hopelessness of the situation, should involve an act that is terrible in the secular sense as well. Murdering an innocent, for example, in a particularly cruel and grisly way. The audience should not feel sympathy for the signator. At best, they might pity them.
The murder, in effect, is the signature. In this case the Devil should follow through on his promise of material bliss -- but the sinner has the shroud of damnation hanging over his head.
***
Conversely, perhaps a good (very bleak, very cynical) story could be built around the idea that EVERYONE who has measurable material success is doomed, having "signed" such a deal by "praying" for it. Only by living a humble, God-faring life could one achieve salvation. In this story it would be easy to sign the pact, but also easy to get out of it, "merely" by rejecting materialism.
An indictment of society.
***
Addendum:
I used the term "prayer" in the third example... What I meant by that is that in this story concept, prayer for EXCESS tends to attract the attn of the Devil, and perhaps it will bring about the damning contract if you get what you asked for.
Prayer for humble things -- daily bread, modest income, love, health, a roof over your head... these prayers are (hopefully) answered by God.
The ultimate goal is to end up as close to Zero as possible, when you die. Dying in debt is bad. Dying with lots of toys you didn't need (that got in the way of you and your devotion) is bad. Of course it's impossible to hit zero exactly, but excess should be given to needy people, or invested in institutions that fulfill basic those needs.
No additional sin is necessary, which helps justify the typical loophole the temporarily damned protagonist uses to weasel out of the commitment.
Usually these stories are intended as gentle nudges -- the Devil is a big liar who offers you a deal, and when you take it he CAN'T HELP but to break it (because he lies) in a way adheres to the letter of the contract but opens up a slim possibility to escape f/ the deal. And the protagonist reforms and escapes.
***
I was thinking that selling your soul should be more final than that -- it should be stated involve something akin to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, an irredeemable sin.
And as a storytelling device, to hammer home the utter hopelessness of the situation, should involve an act that is terrible in the secular sense as well. Murdering an innocent, for example, in a particularly cruel and grisly way. The audience should not feel sympathy for the signator. At best, they might pity them.
The murder, in effect, is the signature. In this case the Devil should follow through on his promise of material bliss -- but the sinner has the shroud of damnation hanging over his head.
***
Conversely, perhaps a good (very bleak, very cynical) story could be built around the idea that EVERYONE who has measurable material success is doomed, having "signed" such a deal by "praying" for it. Only by living a humble, God-faring life could one achieve salvation. In this story it would be easy to sign the pact, but also easy to get out of it, "merely" by rejecting materialism.
An indictment of society.
***
Addendum:
I used the term "prayer" in the third example... What I meant by that is that in this story concept, prayer for EXCESS tends to attract the attn of the Devil, and perhaps it will bring about the damning contract if you get what you asked for.
Prayer for humble things -- daily bread, modest income, love, health, a roof over your head... these prayers are (hopefully) answered by God.
The ultimate goal is to end up as close to Zero as possible, when you die. Dying in debt is bad. Dying with lots of toys you didn't need (that got in the way of you and your devotion) is bad. Of course it's impossible to hit zero exactly, but excess should be given to needy people, or invested in institutions that fulfill basic those needs.
(Because I am too...) 
