On the first day God said, "Let their be light."

The Devil replied, "Let their be money."

On the second day, God created the sky, while the Devil created markets where money could be traded and more money could be made. On the third day, God separated the earth from the sea, and upon the earth God planted all sorts of vegetation. Meanwhile, the Devil organized corporations to exploit the earth and earn money to trade in the markets, thus making more money for themselves.

On the fourth day, God created the sun, the stars, and the moon. The Devil, on the other hand, created banks to finance the corporations.

On the fifth day, God created all sorts of animals--sea creatures, land animals, and birds of the air. "Be fruitful and multiply," God told them.

The Devil protested, "Are you trying to regulate the markets I have created?!?!" And so the Devil created free-market think tanks.

On the sixth day, God created human beings. "My children, take care of this planet," he told to them, "for it is my gift to you. You will see me in your brother the sun, your sisters the stars. You will hear me in Brother Wind, and taste my goodness in Sister Water. You will know me in your brother trees and your sister animals. You will find me in all things. Through them you will know my beauty."

But the Devil said to the humans, "That's all well and good, but look at the money that can be made by exploiting the beasts of the field, destroying the land, and polluting the air and water! Your fiscal health and future matters just as much--if not more--than the health and future of this planet."

And on the seventh day, God wept while the Devil laughed and the planet died.