Good thread Pik, it will be interesting to see how the resident theists will answer. Its a question I've often wondered about. In the common vernacular of the words Relationship and Communication, to me it requires another entity and a "two way" conversation. If we look at the word "entity", we have the following definitions...
1.)Something that exists as a particular and discrete unit: Persons and corporations are equivalent entities under the law.
2.)The fact of existence; being.
3.)The existence of something considered apart from its properties.
We know that god(s) do not fit this definition. We have no evidence of a discreet unit. We have NO facts of a gods existence. We have no evidence of anything called a god apart from its properties.
Since there is no entity, there is no two way communication, there is by default, no relationship. Theists associate "signs" as a form of communication. Totally ignoring that what ever "sign" they perceived is quite probably nothing more than coincidence. Even if the probablility of a coincidence is extremely small, its still coincidence.
Theist "A" prays for a friend to recover from a serious illness, the friend recovers, and Theist A thanks god, instead of thanking the doctors who took it upon themselves to learn the medical profession at a generally great expense. If the friend doesn't recover, they say "it was gods will" instead of thinking that the illness was either non-recoverable in the first place or the doctors screwed up.
A friend of mine was diagnosed with lung cancer. It was a tumor on the right lobe. His wife and other firends all sent out emails asking for us to pray. Doctors told him he had a 20% chance of survival. Fortunately for him, after several chemo and radiation treatments, he is now cancer free. Another email went out thanking everyone who prayed and a side note directed at me (they know I'm an atheist) saying how god works in mysterious ways. I wrote back with my congrats and a side note saying to thank the doctors who fixed him up because they are the true "miracle" workers. Naturally, I didn't get a response back. They never concidered that the 20% chance of survival had anything to do with it.