does this answer some of the questions about why there is hurt in the world if there is a god?
I am reminded of a recent trip to the dentist. While the dentist was
cleaning my teeth he said to me,
"I do not believe in God."
Now this dentist knows what I do for a living and how important my
faith is to me, yet for numerous reasons (one main one being his hands
were in my mouth) I uncharacteristically remained silent, allowing him
to explain;
"How can God exist and still allow all the suffering and pain in the
world?"
I remained quiet until he was finished (and of course put his tools
away) and told him that "I do not believe in dentists."
This confused him greatly so I clarified for him that if there are
dentists in the world, how can so many people have broken, infected
and missing teeth?
He answered me "I cannot help anyone who does not come to me to have
their teeth fixed."
That reply is the same for faith. He cannot help people until they
come to H
2006-10-25 07:46:06 · 54 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The truth shall set you free. Nice story
2006-10-25 07:54:19 · answer #1 · answered by christian? 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen. It's an explanation other people will understand.
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects.
When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists."
"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.
"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving a God who would allow all of these things."
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and un-kept.
The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist."
"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"
"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."
"Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me."
"Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!
What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him.
That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."
2006-10-25 08:02:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Okay that so did not really happen. Sounds like a chain letter to me.
Although I am Agnostic I do see the point in that story. While it may be very touching it's not exactly an accurate analogy. The dentist does not have it in his power to fix everyone's teeth in the blink of an eye. He is only ABLE to help those who come to him. If there is a God, he is ABLE to help everyone, but he chooses not to. There are those who pray and pray and pray, yet their prayers go unanswered. There are 'God fearing Christians' in this world who have it rough. They come to God seeking help and do they get it? They still suffer.
2006-10-25 07:54:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yay! more contrived christian drivel in the form of a bad analogy... how many of these do i get to hear today?
The difference is you are making a claim that dentists are responsible for the upkeep of everyone teeth which is an untrue statement. Dentists are not supernatural beings... they are humans who have chosen a role which requires them to certain responsibilities to their patients. The dentists didn't create these teeth, but they offer their help in maintaining the health of them. This is a far cry from the claim that there is a creator god that is out there (in a seemingly infinite universe mind you) just for us. Are we responsible for going to him for cleanings and checkups? Should we brush our souls 3 times daily after meals?
2006-10-25 07:54:20 · answer #4 · answered by ChooseRealityPLEASE 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
main difference is the dentist actually does help people who come to him--I know I am not alone in saying, I have gone to god with my problems and gotten nothing from him--not even an I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do--no help, no explanations, and no refunds or returns of all my hard earned money that went into that offering plate--your story sucks
2006-10-25 08:44:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If I could tell you how many times this has been rehashed, I'd be a far better mathematician than I am.
The problem of evil is logically sound. There is significant difference between the imprisonment rate of christians and atheists. Christians make up about 75% of the USA's population, and represent about 75% of the prison population. Atheists make up about 10% of the USA's population, but yet represent less than 0.5% of the prison population.
Following your logic, this would imply that God & Jesus are actually CAUSING evil, not working to stop it.
God is said to be all-powerful and all-loving. It's said he does not want us to suffer. Let's look at the conclusion of this.
--> If God wants to stop all suffering, but can't, then he impotent.
--> If God can stop all suffering but doesn't, then he is malicious.
--> If God cannot stop suffering and doesn't want to, then why call him God?
--> If God can stop suffering and wants to, then from whence evil?
I posit this -- you assert the problem of evil lies in free will. I'll ignore for a moment the proofs against free will and assume it exists. God is omnipotent and all knowing. This means he knows the answer to every question. So let us ask God this question, "God, how do you create a race of beings that has free will but yet is unable to commit sin or at least not to do evil?" Since he has the answer to this question, he could stop evil without denying free will.
No, the problem of evil is not so easily dismissed as your story implies.
2006-10-25 07:50:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
So your saying that the gods need to get into dentistry, isn't that a little silly.
Maybe if they (the gods) thought about it in the first place they could have just made teeth stronger. Surely a wise and perfect god would have done that, then they wouldnt have to stop all their godding and go around fixing teeth.
2006-10-25 07:53:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
And who is he A story told by some believed by millions because free thinking is not encouraged when it comes to religion, So I tell you I think for myself me an I and the 3 of us can not get in to all that ignorant religion ranting.
2006-10-25 07:53:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Spurious argument. We KNOW dentists exist, God is a matter of faith alone.
Before anyone shouts I am religious
2006-10-25 07:51:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
i was once told that reason for all the suffering in this world was because of a bet between god n the devil
the devil has to cause as much pain n suffering as possible so that EVERYONE turns against god..
but as long as there is people like u about god will win..
2006-10-25 07:53:52 · answer #10 · answered by JACQUELINE D 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
That's a good analogy! But you should go to the right dentist that is a more important thing, othewise he can destroy all your teeth!
2006-10-25 07:55:29 · answer #11 · answered by ATK 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋