Mailbag: God Bless
Subject: Love of God
I will pray that GOD will open your eyes (heart) and may GOD bless you.
That's nice, but why would Erik take the time to tell me this? Why was it necessary to announce that there would be prayers? Isn't it sufficient to simply pray - aren't prayers a matter between the believer and their god, not third parties? Surely an advance notice of prayers won't make them more effective. Does the announcement serve to make people like Erik feel better?
I’ve never really understood this, but it happens so often I have to conclude that there must be a pervasive feeling that unless the subject of prayers is aware of them, then the prayers themselves are at least somewhat pointless. It doesn’t make any logical sense and it doesn’t even make any theological sense — there is nothing in traditional, orthodox Christianity which even implies such a thing. Still, people do it.
Actually, it’s worth wondering whether any of these people ever really pray for me at all. Perhaps they don’t. Perhaps they only say this, and need to say it to me, because it make them feel better... or even superior.
More selections from the Agnosticism / Atheism Mailbag...
Comments
I doubt if Eric is even aware he is following the long tradition of trying to use guilt, shame and ostracisim to get others to conform to Christian beliefs. “After all the praying I have done for you, the least you could do is convert to Christianity.”
I prefer to see it from the Uber-Christian superiority angle. I think, deep down, Eric is telling you:
“I know you think that’s true, but you’re wrong because I said so. Er, I mean, cause God said so. Yeah, that’s it. Anyway, I’ll take pity on you by saying ‘I’ll pray for you’ instead of telling you how totally right you know I am because I think that’s less offensive somehow, yet it still makes you know that I’m waaay better than you. (Man, it sure hurts being being so right all the time. Kinda lonely, actually…) Well, I’m off to correct more sinners with my divinely inspired ‘awesomeness’. Let me know if you any questions.”
Another way to put it is, “I’m right cuz my Daddy says so.” (You have to take his work for this. His dad lives on a cloud or something, so you can’t really confirm they share the same views)
Sorry for the typos…
(shrugs)
:-)