In the narrative of Malachi Martin's "The Final Conclave," 27% of the College of Cardinals are depicted as playing a cautious game, constantly hedging their bets. These cardinals are described as prudent agnostics, maintaining a hollow hope in the teachings of the Catholic Church without firm conviction. They are portrayed as fence-sitters, waiting to see which way the wind blows before committing, much like the Israelites who hesitated during the confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. This behavior is characterized by a lack of deep commitment, as they drift with the tide and soft-pedal their faith, unsure of the Church's correctness. Similarly, within the Worldwide Church of God, there was a sense of members playing an incredible game of being prudent agnostics. They were acquainted with God but not truly committed, as evidenced by their conduct. These individuals were described as hedging their bets, floating around, and ready to follow the path of least resistance, often resulting in the church becoming merely a fraternal organization. The text suggests that such an attitude of hedging one's bet is detrimental to true faith and commitment. It contrasts this with the need for Christians to be deeply committed loyalists, thoroughly examining God's word and understanding that there is no other solution than a change in government and spirit from man under Satan to man under God.

In the book "The Final Conclave," Malachi Martin describes a conversation between two Cardinals, Angelico and Dominico, about the religious and political composition of the College of Cardinals. Angelico reveals that 27% of the Cardinals are playing a game of hedging their bets. These Cardinals are described as prudent agnostics, unsure of God's existence. They hope the teachings of the church are correct but are not certain. Their faith has been shaken by examples of corruption and self-serving behavior within the church. As a result, they tend to drift with the prevailing winds of the church's direction, supporting whichever Pope is in power, whether the focus is on strengthening the church theologically or leaning more towards political orientation. These Cardinals hold significant power during papal elections, as they can shift the voting in various directions to further their own careers.