The existence of God

idi banashapan · 18-03-2009, 20:21

I'm not a deeply religious person, but I read a good story and wondered how others would take it. Forgive my ignorance if this is a well known story, but I'd not heard it before:

A man went to a barbershop to have his haircut 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 untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The
customer turned back and entered the barbershop 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."

I can see the point of the man who had his beard cut, but does this story not miss the point that the barber is only a man. whereas God is seen as omnipresent / omnipotent?

Surely if there was a God, then the barber's point would hold true? why is there pain and suffering? And if God is seen as all-forgiving and loving, why is there a need for Hell? Would everyone not be accepted into God's Heaven if they are loved and forgiven by him?

**Chris** · 18-03-2009, 20:24

/runs away to paint the bedroom

idi banashapan · 18-03-2009, 20:25

lol

Ramrod · 18-03-2009, 20:26

........I'm gonna sit this one out

(sorry Bender, I just don't have the energy for another one of these)

**Chris** · 18-03-2009, 20:26

Seriously, I am off upstairs with a paint brush right now. I'm happy to come back and have a go at this later though. In the meantime I can see the usual suspects circling, so I'll leave you all to it for now ...

18-03-2009, 20:26

you would need to go right back to the beginning when god gave man free will

Russ · 18-03-2009, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

Surely if there was a God, then the barber's point would hold true? why is there pain and suffering? And if God is seen as all-forgiving and loving, why is there a need for Hell? Would everyone not be accepted into God's Heaven if they are loved and forgiven by him?

Been

answered

countless

times

on

CF

in

the

past!!

Raistlin · 18-03-2009, 20:28

You've kind of answered your own question.....

.....if God existed he wouldn't allow anybody to start any more threads on Cable Forum about Religion

basa · 18-03-2009, 20:29

OMG !!

(Well someone had to say it

)

idi banashapan · 18-03-2009, 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob M

You've kind of answered your own question.....

.....if God existed he wouldn't allow anybody to start any more threads on Cable Forum about Religion

ha! I see... I take it this one is a bone of contention here? I am aware there are some very religious people who post here, and not being religious myself (though I believe there is something greater than ourselves out there somewhere), I just wanted to see how faith defends such predicaments. in a way, there is logic on both sides of the fence here.

downquark1 · 18-03-2009, 20:38

The story would suggest that the religious are free from disease and suffering. Is this true?

Russ · 18-03-2009, 20:42

I suffer these types of threads a lot so I'd say the answer might be no....

mischievious · 18-03-2009, 20:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Seriously, I am off upstairs with a paint brush right now. I'm happy to come back and have a go at this later though. In the meantime I can see the usual suspects circling, so I'll leave you all to it for now ...

wisdom appears in many guises

**Hugh** · 18-03-2009, 20:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by downquark1

The story would suggest that the religious are free from disease and suffering. Is this true?

I think it shows people find what they want to see in the story

What's the old joke? - show a plumber a problem, and it will be a plumbing problem.

Likewise, I believe that most people will find in that "story" something that reinforces their existing viewpoint (imho).

**Maggy** · 18-03-2009, 20:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

ha! I see... I take it this one is a bone of contention here? I am aware there are some very religious people who post here, and not being religious myself (though I believe there is something greater than ourselves out there somewhere), I just wanted to see how faith defends such predicaments. in a way, there is logic on both sides of the fence here.

You have been a member here since 2003 and NOW you ask this question...