While watching TV, Morris Godman, a New York ex-adman, receives a message from God and is inspired to form a new religion called "The Preferent Church". Godman hires Ian Clarity, a janitor, to be in charge of his new religion, which is founded on a philosophy of selfishness and greed. The new religion is a success, and Codman and Clarity get rich. Later, in a predictable epiphany, and with the help of his skeptical girlfriend Debbie, he discovers the beauty of altruism, realizing that bilking people out of their money isn't worth the loss of his morals and his love.