From: "Michael S****" 
To: <Darwin@Atheists.net>
Subject:
Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2000 04:17:25 -0500

GOD'S TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE

God would like to thank you for your belief and patronage. In order
to better serve your needs, He asks that you take a few moments to
answer the following questions. Please keep in mind that your
responses will be kept completely confidential, and that you need not
disclose your name or address unless you prefer a direct response to
comments or suggestions.

1. How did you find out about your deity?
   __ Newspaper
   __ Bible
   __ Torah
   __ Television
   __ Book of Mormon
   __ Divine Inspiration
   __ Dead Sea Scrolls
   _*_ My Mama Done Tol' Me
   __ Near Death Experience
   __ Near Life Experience
   __ National Public Radio
   __ Tabloid
   __ Burning Shrubbery
   __ Other  (specify): _____________

2. Which model deity did you acquire?
   __ Yahweh
   __ Father, Son & Holy Ghost <Trinity Pak>
   __ Jehovah
   _*_ Jesus
   __ Krishna
   __ Zeus and entourage <Olympus Pak>
   __ Odin and entourage <Valhallah Pak>
   __ Allah
   __ Satan
   __ Gaia/Mother Earth/Mother Nature
   __ God 1.0a (Hairy Thunderer)
   __ God 1.0b (Cosmic Muffin)
   __ None of the above, I was taken in by a false god

3. Did your God come to you undamaged, with all parts in good working
   order and with no obvious breakage or missing attributes?
   _*_ Yes  __ No
   If no, please describe the problems you initially encountered here.
   Please indicate all that apply:
   __ Not eternal
   __ Finite in space/Does not occupy or inhabit the entire cosmos
   __ Not omniscient
   __ Not omnipotent
   __ Not infinitely plastic (incapable of being all things to all
creations)
   __ Permits sex outside of marriage
   __ Prohibits sex outside of marriage
   __ Makes mistakes (Geraldo Rivera)
   __ Makes or permits bad things to happen to good people
   __ Looks after life other than that on Earth
   __ When beseeched, He doesn't stay beseeched
   __ Requires burnt offerings
   __ Requires virgin sacrifices

4. What factors were relevant in your decision to acquire a deity?
   Please check all that apply.
   __ Indoctrinated by parents
   __ Needed a reason to live
   __ Indoctrinated by society
   __ Needed focus in whom to despise
   __ Imaginary friend grew up
   __ Wanted to know Jesus in the Biblical sense
   __ Hate to think for myself
   __ Wanted to meet girls/boys
   __ Fear of death
   __ Wanted to piss off parents
   __ Couldn't see why Geraldo should exist
   __ Needed a day away from work
   __ Desperate need for certainty
   __ Like Organ Music
   _*_ Need to feel Morally Superior
   __ Thought Jerry Falwell was cool
   __ Shit was falling out of the sky
   __ My shrubbery caught fire and told me to do it

5. Have you ever worshipped a deity before?  If so, which false god were
   you fooled by?  Please check all that apply.
   __ Mick Jagger
   __ Cthulhu
   __ Baal
   __ The Almighty Dollar
   __ Bill Gates
   __ Left Wing Liberalism
   __ The Radical Right
   __ Ra
   __ Beelzebub
   __ Barney T.B.P.D.
   __ The Great Spirit
   __ The Great Pumpkin
   __ The Sun
   __ Elvis
   __ Cindy Crawford
   __ The Moon
   __ A burning shrubbery
   __ Other: ________________

6. Are you currently using any other source of inspiration in addition
   to God?  Please check all that apply.
   __ Tarot
   __ Lottery
   __ Astrology
   __ Television
   __ Fortune cookies
   __ Ann Landers
   __ Psychic Friends Network
   __ Dianetics
   __ Palmistry
   __ Playboy and/or Playgirl
   __ Self-help books
   __ Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll
   __ Biorhythms
   __ Alcohol
   __ Bill Clinton
   __ Tea Leaves
   __ EST
   __ CompuServe
   __ Mantras
   __ Jimmy Swaggert
   __ Crystals (not including Crystal Gayle)
   __ Human Sacrifice
   __ Pyramids
   __ Wandering around a desert
   __ Insurance policies
   __ Burning Shrubbery
   __ Barney T.B.P.D.
   __ Xena Warrior Princess
   __ Other:_____________________
   _*_ None

7. God employs a limited degree of Divine Intervention to preserve the
   balanced level of felt presence and blind faith.
   Which would you prefer (circle one)?
   a. More Divine Intervention
   b. Less Divine Intervention
   c*. Current level of Divine Intervention is just right
   d. Don't know...what's Divine Intervention?

8. God also attempts to maintain a balanced level of disasters and
   miracles. Please rate on a scale of 1 - 5 his handling of the
   following (1 = unsatisfactory, 5 = excellent):
   a. Disasters:
      flood                                            1*   2   3  4   5
      famine                                           1  * 2   3   4   5
      earthquake                                       1*   2   3   4   5
      war                                              1*   2   3   4   5
      pestilence                                       1  * 2   3   4   5
      plague                                           *1   2   3   4   5
      SPAM                                             *1   2   3   4   5
      AOL                                              *1   2   3   4   5
   b. Miracles:
      rescues                                          *1   2   3   4   5
      spontaneous remissions                           *1   2   3   4   5
      stars hovering over jerkwater towns              *1   2   3   4   5
      crying statues                                   *1   2   3   4   5
      water changing to wine                           *1   2   3   4   5
      walking on water                                 *1   2   3   4   5
      VCRs that set their own clocks                   1*   2   3   4   5
      Saddam Hussein still alive                       1 *  2   3   4   5
      getting any sex whatsoever                       1*   2   3   4   5

9. Do you have any additional comments or suggestions for improving the
   quality of God's services?  (Attach an additional sheet if
   necessary):
If your serious about your beliefs you'll read this and understand it..I'm serious about mine, and willing to accept and critism on your behalf.
OK, I filled out your survey..now that you have some comments.
First, how does this survey apply to my beliefs???? seems pointless to me.
    Second if a person doesn't believe in God because God is not physically here, or you are unable to imagine his presence, then that person is no better than a caveman. Let me explain.. Honestly, I am not an avid follower of God, but I do have faith in God. Now back to my point, think about one million years ago, before any sort of technology, sciences or mathematics..the time of caveman..or whatever. If I went up to a caveman and told him that I could fly, he'd say I'm lying. If I told this caveman that such things as a universe beyond earth exist, he'd say I'm lying. If I said that one day a man like you would be able to survive underwater and explore the greatest depths of the sea, he'd say I'm lying.. The caveman, would thing I foolish for following such believes, and carry on with his difficult life, running away from the dangers of giant dinosaurs and creatures alike. While I'm here typing this message in the comfort and safety of my own home, with no fear of danger and no worries, at this moment. Now what is it that separates us from that caveman?? It's the belief of something greater, something so great that a caveman's mind can't comprehend.
    We are like this caveman, you, me, and everyone on this earth, our minds are too small to even begin to understand the mysterious ways of God, sure it sounds stupid, but so did the idea of flight to the caveman.  It is not until we die, and are released from the constraints of our body's, when we could finally understand God, and be with him in heaven. But, if we lack the will to believe in God, then our souls when our body dies. Don't believe in a soul???? After all it can't be explain with medical science, right? well right, it can't be.. but neither can the miracle of life, our soul is life, something that medical science will never fully understand.  I can't make a strong argument for God, but you can't make a strong argument against God, the fact is that no one understands God enough to argue for or against God. 
    Now, life is about making two choices, you can take it, or leave it; you can go, or stay; you can disregard this e-mail, or take it to heart; its these choices that determine or happiness in this world. Believing in God, you lose nothing...you don't have to be a church go-er to have faith, you don't have to pray everyday to have faith, you just have to believe. To not believe you lose eternity in heaven, and gain eternity in hell. You can be stubborn and throw this e-mail out, or post it on your page....It your free will to do what you want, I can't stop you no one can, but just remember this, every action has a direct opposite reaction....