The "Friendly Atheist" wonders what good our praying for the NASA community will do? (see blog "How Should We React to Their Prayers.") My atheist friend isn't going to boycott our right to pray and he won't confront anyone face to face with the futility of our praying, but it does make him want to laugh. If I read him correctly, the "Friendly Atheist" would rather we do something that might actually do some good and save jobs.
The "Friendly Atheist" is well of aware of studies that people who are prayed for often "get better" but, according to him, this is due to no more than the person being cared for by another. "But the people doing the praying aren’t thinking that. We know that. They think a god is going to act on their prayers. That’s just silly." (How Should We React to Their Prayers?)
Oh, I LOVE that!! "That's just silly..." "They think a god is going to act on their prayers."
Yup, Mr. "Friendly Atheist" that's exactly what we think happens when the people of God pray.
God acts.
Stuff happens.
Lives change.
And yes, it is silly... just silly amazing to be a part of.
1 comment:
It is acknowledged even in this blog entry that people respond to prayer, though (as the blogger writes) maybe it is because you know that people care.
The fact that prayers were offered garnered attention, didn't it? It made it into news reports, and brought a great deal of focus on what was happening in the community.
Can anyone say with 100% certainty that this affected zero people in the community, gave nobody peace, and reached the ears of no decision makers?
Perhaps prayer can have an effect even indirectly. Perhaps this had a greater impact and reach because it was not a letter lost in the mountain of paper delivered to our leaders every day.
Who is to say that God cannot and does not work through such means?
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