I found this Funny.?

Question

I am not trying to prove anyone wrong. So no need to start up a debate or anything. its just a joke that I wanted to post.

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 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."

Answer 1

Wow! Pretty interesting, isn't it? I can't say this was very funny, but it sure is a unique way of looking at things.

God Bless

Answer 2

I've seen the "barber" anecdote (and it's an anecdote, not a joke) posted here several times. And I think it's a horrible analogy.

Why this analogy is flawed:

1) There have been countless people over the centuries who were suffereing in one form or another, and no matter how sincere they were, "Going to God" did not help them.

Heck, parts of Europe were under a theocracy during medieval times, and they still had the Black Death among other problems. And of course there were plenty of prayers during the holocaust (though if you think Jews, gypsys, and Catholics are all just a bunch of godless heathens, then your analogy is even more flawed)

2) "Going to the barber" does not necessarily mean going to one particular person. There are barbers in every town. So at best this analogy implies polytheism. Yet somehow I think the people who made up this story are against that.

3) Prayer, last time I checked, didn't cost $12. For some people, that prevents or discourages them from getting a haircut.

4) Barbers are not allegedly omipotent nor omniscent, unlike God. So while it's not the barber's responsibility to seek out clients, the same doesn't necessarily hold with God.

5) People who have long hair KNOW very well that barbers do exist. For one, you can actually SEE barbers, and more importantly there's no ambiguity about how to get a haircut and showing the results came directly from the barber. The same can't be said about choosing a religion or sect, and what things people can attribute to prayer.

In fact, the particular wording you used is even worse for needlessly having to spell things out at the end! A good anecdote, like a good joke, should not have to do that.

Answer 3

I find it funny that anyone would use this argument to prove that God exists. Basically this is saying that God allows and creates suffering simply because there are people who don't accept God. After all, the barber pointed out sickness, which certainly isn't caused by human not following any of God's laws. So, by this reasoning, it must be sent by God because we're not all accepting him. That being the case, why would anyone accept him? He seems to be a cruel and petty being who wants our devotion and will punish us if we don't give it to him.

Also, the logic doesn't hold up to even the slightest examination. If someone with long hair wants to get it cut, they go to a barber and they no longer have long hair. If someone with suffering wants it to end, they can turn to god, but their suffering may not end. So, that proves that barbers exist and do what they're intended to do, but offers no evidence that there is a god.

Answer 4

that's not a joke, that's an "oooh i got a jab at an atheist with a story that never really happened, but sounds believable enough that i can use it to make a fool out of an atheist" fictitious anecdote.

It's like a xian went home after losing an argument with an atheist and they said "Damn, i should've said this...." and they write this fantastic story about a xian sticking it to an atheist. It has and never will happen.

the story is ridiculous because there could've been several reasons why the "unkept" man was dirty and his hair was grown. Maybe that was a look he was fond of, maybe he was too lazy to go to the barber, or maybe he was homeless and cared more about using the change he collected to buy himself food to worry about getting his haircut. That doesn't prove that the barber doesn't exist nor does it make for a good story about proving a god's existance. It merely proves that there are people who do not go to the barber for whatever reasons.

These "i got you, atheist" stories are ridiculous. The saddest part is that it makes perfect sense to the xians and they buy it. How tragically pathetic.

Answer 5

Or maybe the guy doesnt want a haircut.


So the people that do seek him out are immune from illness and taken care of? Why did my grandmother's house burned down right after her husband died? Ive never seen anyone more devout. Why are soldiers dying for no reason other than greed? Why did bush get into office?

Answer 6

Ah... I love it when people who don't know how to think critically try to present parables that they think are 'wise'... when the correlations that they are attempting to make are not in the least bit valid. It just makes them look so... dang... what's that word again?... oh, yeah... stupid.

Look up: 'sophistry'

P.S.: I just looked at some of the other answers... from Christians. It is absolutely appalling to see how many people perceive such a logical fallacy to be deep... profound... meaningful... applicable. It is achingly sad to see how many minds have been compromised by the malicious mental-manipulation techniques that have been devised, improved and perfected by 'christianity' over the past 1,700 years or so. Christianity is the most vile and obscene travesty that has ever been perpetrated upon humanity.

Imagine if tens of millions of people had been tortured and/or killed throughout history, in the name of Harry Potter, over the question of whether or not he was the one that was prophecied to conquer Voldemort, or not.

Well... the EXACT equivalent of that has occurred, because... you see... Jesus is FICTIONAL... just like Harry Potter.
.

Answer 7

This implies that god never helps an uninformed poor human being on the street. How irreligious_____ No wonder you found this to be funny.

Answer 8

Nice story. I liked it. reminds me of the one where two people where having a similar conversation. This is the very shortened version:
Person A says: Since I cannot see, touch, taste, hear, or smell God, therefore he must not exist.
Person B responds: Can you see your own brain, touch it, tastes, it smell, hear it.
Person A: "No"
Person B: "Your brain does not exist.......".

Answer 9

Clever,problem being,it appears everyone CLAIMS to visit the "barber"regularly,however,if you will look,you find most who claim to visit the "barber"..ahem...religiously tend to be the most unkempt people of all

Answer 10

WOW Those "god proofs" are convincing. I guess this one also "proves" that barbers are as omnipotent and all powerful as "god" is supposed to be, otherwise it would not have been so surprising that there was an unshaved man. WOW.

Answer 11

Indeed. Here's what Einstein said...
about evil(law), does not exist
and about God(grace), does exist:
http://www.godshew.org/OneLiners.htm#Einstein

Grace unto you, and peace,
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here's a video about believe(lies) vs know(truth):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Wec5br_tY&NR=1

Believers? Do as well as devils: James 2:8,19;
So "believe not": Matthew 24:23,26; 1John 4:1.
For false Christs shall arise... to DECEIVE.

Biblical objective isn't to believe, but to know: John 8:32.

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.