Isn't this lovely? All you logical thinking philosophers!!!?

Question

>BEST EXPLANATION EVER!
>
>This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering
>that I have seen: 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 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 unkept.
>
>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! That's what happens when people do not come to
>me."
>
>"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!
>That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for
>help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."
>
>If you think God exists, send this to other people--- If you think God does
>not exist, delete it!
>
>BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS

Answer 1

I really enjoyed that. Amen and God bless you.

Lots of discomfort, squirming and tortured rationale in the answers from those who do not want to see the truth of what you wrote.
†

Answer 2

If I had seen the man with the stringy dirty hair and scraggly beard I would have talked to him. Since he looks like that he most likely is very depressed and lonely. I would've gotten to know him and see if there was some way I could help him or find others who could help him. I do believe in God, we were given everything we need on this planet to have good lives. We have teachings, and not just from Jesus, but from many happy, giving spiritual people. If we follow what some of these people say and live by them, we could have heaven here. I get angry sometimes with how things are. I don't know why so many horrible things happen, but if we were all more loving and understanding things would be so much better.

Answer 3

So you're admitting that god isn't a non-profit organisation? That god wants our cash in order to make a living? That god actually relies on something like that?


Let me clarify a little something to you. I'm sure if the tramp had enough spare cash, he'd go and get a hair-cut.... The barber, unless he was particularly altruistic, wouldn't do it for free because his business... his livelihood relies on it. The tramp, furthermore, most probably realises that he can't just get a haircut for free. He knows the barbershop is there... but it wouldn't help him to walk in for a haircut if he doesn't have the cash.... and he might not even want one besides.

On the other hand... there is no reason why an omnipotent being shouldn't be able to dish out the good stuff freely, since he'll never have any shortage.


And all at once your metaphor fails, much like everything else your diseased kind do.

Answer 4

Hey wait a second....

Barbers don't claim to be omniscient and omnipotent. If there were an omniscient omnipotent barber who could miraculously trim all beards everywhere just for the praying, and he DIDN'T do it, then yes, we could say that barber didn't exist. Same goes for God.

Are you saying the dude had an untrimmed beard because he didn't go to a barber or because he didn't go to God? What if he went to God but not a barber?

Didn't Jesus have long dirty untrimmed hair???

What if God is testing the dude's faith, as He did with Job?

Answer 5

So if I'm reading this right:
If the needy (the counterpart of the hairy) go to god (the barber's proxy), then they'll be fed & cured - just as the barber cuts the guy's hair. Really? What have my needy Christian friends done wrong then? Why are they still getting ill & poor, even after they've "found their God?" Are barbers more reliable?

Answer 6

So your basic argument is...suffering is caused by a lack of belief in god.

Lets assume you're right for a minute.

1) People don't believe in god
2) God allows them to suffer
3) This strengthens their belief there's no god.

Is that the process a perfectly logical god has?

On the flip side.

Your analogy says no-one who knows barbers exist have straggly hair. Therefore, no-one who knows god feels suffering.

Is this true?

Answer 7

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Answer 8

That's absolute rubbish. What about all the people who do believe in God and attend church every Sunday but still get sick? Are you trying to say that only non-believers suffer? If you think that answers the question then you're seriously deluded.

Answer 9

Yes I like that.

"That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!
That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Answer 10

Excellent. You are genius.
Be Blessed you too.

I'm going to get my hair trimmed, otherwise Barbers will think me as an Atheist. Ha Ha.