So I'm confused, like I say. How does that prayer give any proof that your god exists? Suppose I never prayed that way, but instead just shrugged and said "sh-- happens"? Would events unfold any differently?
Of course. You would be unaware of all the things God directly does for you.
Sorry, can you clarify? Are you saying that the ONLY difference between the "I pray" and the "I do not pray" reality would be my knowledge of what god did? But that what god did would NOT differ?
But let me put it in a secular frame for you. You think of a good friend of
yours and you pick up the phone (landline) to call them and they are already
on the line because they called you.
Do you know, its amazing that you mention that, because just the other day I went to call a friend I'd not spoken to for ages. I picked up the phone, and already on the line was a double-glazing firm calling me! Spooky or what!
It happened the other week, too. I went to call him, and his number was engaged! I tried for half an hour, and eventually got through to his wife, who told me he was at work.
Point being, sometimes weird coincidences happen. And, being human, because they make for a great story, we remember them and tell them to others, and they come to seem FAR more important that the 999,999 other times when weird stuff DIDN'T happen.
Your example of going to call a friend, and finding them already on the line to you. What do you
calculate the odds are of that happening? I'd appreciate seeing how you arrived at the calculated odds please.
Or, if you prefer, you could answer the question I posed about the bug under your floorboards. "You haven't killed him. Should the bug take this as clear evidence that you feel something specific for him? If not, why not?"