Interfaith Group

From an interfaith point of view. I guess I would need to consider where the attack you refer to originated - in what language.

Take it down to a less life and death situation - I get a new job and I say "I feel like God helped me here and I am going to rededicate myself to doing things that would please him, like being nice and kind." While the content of my words is not that objectionable, the implication is that God wanted me to have this job rather than the other people who applied - that's why he helped me and didn't help them. Is that an attack statement though?

I suppose it's also worth asking what the difference between meaningful and intercessory prayer is - I think that intercessory prayer in this context means praying specifically that something in the real world happens that is meaningful and trackable - i.e. I pray for a job and then I find a job. I pray not to catch ebola and then i don't catch ebola.

But even if one never makes that kind of prayer, but simply prays to reach out to God - to build a connection to God - isn't that a bit of an attack as well? I mean if I pray to God and believe that I receive a spiritual benefit to that prayer, than don't I also believe that that spiritual benefit isn't open to Atheists? I mean you aren't likely to pray go God and have a meaningful connection to him, without believing in him. Isn't that also an attack on Atheism, suggesting that you are missing out on something?

One answer is that most people think they are right, and that, by definition, other people are wrong. That doesn't necessarily prevent meaningful interaction.

Bryant