“It is merely an accident of history that it is considered normal in our society to believe that the creator of the universe can hear your thoughts, while it is demonstrative of mental illness to believe that he is communicating with you by having a dinner conversation with you.”

Simplified Meaning:

In our society, it's common and accepted for people to believe that a higher power, like God, is listening to their prayers or thoughts. This is seen as a normal religious practice and part of many people's lives. However, if someone claimed that God was sitting with them at the dinner table and having an actual conversation, most people would think that there was something wrong with that person's mental health. For example, imagine a friend who goes to church and prays every day. The people around them would see this as a typical religious behavior. But if the same friend started saying that God regularly shows up at their house for dinner and talks to them, people would likely be concerned about their mental well-being. This situation makes us think about how society has decided what is normal religious behavior and what is not. It shows that certain beliefs are accepted simply because they have been part of society for a long time, not necessarily because they make more sense. Applying this to your life, it encourages you to think critically about the beliefs and norms you accept and understand that sometimes, traditions shape our ideas of what is normal. It suggests being open-minded and questioning why we view some behaviors as acceptable and others as strange.