God: I have just created what I call “humans”!
Satan: What are those?
God: Little creatures that run around earth. This is going to totally rule. They will do my bidding down there!
Satan: Well, that’s no fair. And certainly no fun.
God: Sure it is. They’ll go around helping the least among them. No one will be hungry or unclothed. Then they’ll get their reward in heaven!
Satan: But if they have no choice but to be good, how are you going to know whether to reward them or not?
God: Well, that’s the best part. I’m going to leave some dusty scrolls laying around, which they will assemble into a New York Times bestseller…
Satan: What’s New York?
God: Never mind. The book and some guys in dresses will tell them how to behave, but they’ll be able to do what they want. I call it “Free Will”.
Satan: So if a guy disobeys the book…
God: Well, I’ll arrange a car accident or a tornado.
Satan: Then I get him?
God: Light him up! Those who use their free will to do good will be steered around any of these “natural” disasters.
God: So each person’s very own actions will dictate how they get to live their life…. It’s genius!
Satan: What if a bad guy uses his free will to kill a good guy?
God: Well…Oh, fuck.
As a former design engineer, I can say even the best minds have trouble anticipating all the consequences of a design decision!
So, a NY bestseller? So God got an agent then? Good for him.