Invisible Strings

Typically, I am slightly irritated or simply wish to provoke nothing more than thought and debate with my posts in an effort to see how others view religion. But this time, I am truly upset by something and it has developed very close to me.

After hearing someone proclaim how great their god was because they had been “blessed” with a wonderful life and success, I began remembering the other times I’ve heard people “thank God” for little things in life, and for being blessed with health, and for food on their plates, and for getting jobs, and for their wonderful family members.

This is especially rampant at Thanksgiving, where many religious people tend to use this holiday to pay homage to their Creator. On the other hand, I’ve heard many believers claim that bad things happen as punishment for the way folks are living (or not living); and there are multiple occurrences of Yahweh punishing violators on Earth with diseases or mass murders in biblical stories.

I began wondering – “What is the religious explanation is for non-believers’ success?” After all, I’ve essentially been an Atheist since I was 15, and have dedicated my life to discrediting holy books, disproving multiple gods, and I currently stand as a nationally published author on atheism, and the Design Editor of American Atheist magazine. Not to mention, my blog has grown beyond belief in the number of members, and although you rarely respond online, I get your emails secretly telling me that you’ve always doubted it too, and thanking me for finally speaking out. So I am obviously causing believers to doubt their religious doctrines. Am I being punished for this disobedience to Yahweh?

Let’s see, I have a great career as one of the highest paid people in my family, a beautiful wife, two well-behaved kids, my entire family is healthy, I drive a Mercedes, I own a 4 bedroom house that sits 1,000 feet from the lake, and I absolutely love my life. Trust me, there are Atheists doing far better than I am; so this begs the question: “Why doesn’t Richard Dawkins’ plane crash each time he flies to another country to promote his book ‘The God Delusion’ which added to his filthy richness?” Why aren’t buildings collapsing during each Atheist Convention? Why do churches continue to be destroyed by weather – apparently produced by gods? Where is the wrathful god we learned about in the Bible? And for me personally, why do I still have my healthy family, a nice home, continue to get the jobs I want, and drive the cars I choose?

Well, someone close to my family has an answer, and it infuriates me. Her explanation for my success and happiness is simply because she prays about it. Yes, that’s right. She has invisible strings controlling my life from miles away, and allowing an Atheist to be blessed via Christian prayer. When things get rough for me on any level, it’s not my hard work and determination, and reasonable view of life, or sacrifice that gets me through the problems; nope – it’s her prayers. I was hired at my job because she prayed for me. I closed on my home because she prayed for me. My wife and I are still married because she prays for me.

I’ve actually been one to thank people for praying for me, because I know it means a lot to them, and in their own way, they are supporting me. Although I know it completely does no good whatsoever, their heart is in the right place, and I honestly appreciate that. But, it must feel nice to sit back and think you are controlling someone’s destiny via conversations with your imaginary friend, and taking credit from hard working people that have struggled to get where they are.

Here’s a tidbit of news for all the Christians that think your prayers are affecting lives: According to the Bible, Yahweh is all-knowing. That means he knows the past and the future. He can’t be wrong. The future is coming and he already knows what’s in it. If he already knows it, it cannot change; therefore, your prayers are worthless. Unless of course, you think a glorious and powerful god like Yahweh can be influenced to change his mind based on your begging, like a 5 yr old trying to get out of a spanking – well, if that’s the case, he is not all powerful at all and we must question why he is considered to be a god in the first place.

Stop your prayers for me, and start worrying about your own success.