What can you say about this, my fellow atheists?

Question

I got this via text message.

Here it goes:

A man and a barber in a barber shop:

Barber:God doesn't exist coz if there's God, there'll be no suffering.

The man didn't reply to avoid arguments, then left the shop. Outside, he saw a beggar with long dirty hair. The man went back to the shop.

Man: Youknow what, barbers don't exist.

Barber: Can't you see? I'm a barber!

Man: If barbers exist, there would be no man with dirty long hair.

Barber: It's just that they don't come to me.




...What can you say? I'm atheist myself but I want to know what can you say, or what will you reply to this guy who texted me this in the most sarcastic, sadomasochistic yet meaningful way. Thanks!

Answer 1

This is what is known as a "straw man."

Answer 2

Interesting read. However, is the barber omnipotent? Can he solve everything with a thought. Did he make the entire universe? No, he's a barber, he only has a limited amount of time.



See what I'm getting at? He can't do it, god can. (well, if he existed).

Answer 3

Easy!!!



Acceptance of a supernatural claim tends to promote cooperative social relationships. This communication demonstrates a willingness to accept, without skepticism, the influence of the speaker in a way similar to a child's acceptance of the influence of a parent. By encouraging this kind of behavior where the most intense social relationships occur it facilitates the lack of skepticism and deters more open minded thinking.



They are christian, Muslim or the other religions depending where they were born simply because they were indoctrinated by their parents as very young children. They will go on to indoctrinate their own children and those will go on to indoctrinate their grandchildren!!



Atheists have the intellect to see through the conditioning and escape into the real world!!



Agnostics have the intellect to see through the conditioning but lack the courage to throw of the conditioning entirely.



Sadly Christians are still held firmly prisoner by the self perpetuating brainwashing!!



All the people that live in reality know there are men with long hair and only the religious with closed minds try to deny them!!!

Answer 4

Your friend is just playing semantics with you because he doesn't have a valid argument.



You could use the same "logic" to say that Zeus, Thor, leprechauns, etc. are real, but that does not prove their existence.



And by the way, barbers exist in physical reality and can be observed and shown to exist - where do gods exist and where can you see one?

Answer 5

I don't think people get the meaning of this, this isn't suppose to be PROOF that god exist, what its trying to say is reach deep into your heart and find God and he will help you, and if any of you have proof that God doesn't exist than please feel free to tell me but please don't say science or logic because science isn't always correct and there are many different theories, and logic doesn't cut it either just because you don't believe in something doesn't mean it isn't true. I know this might not mean anything to anyone coming from a twelve year old but to me the fact that you guys spend time to tell people their beliefs are wrong is kind of stupid I talk about God because I have faith but why do you? If you don't believe in him oh well stop wasting your time with what you don't believe in.

Answer 6

Are barber's all powerful? Are barber's all knowing? Are barber's all loving?



Barbers don't claim to have any of these traits.



But God claims to be all powerful, knowing and loving. He claims to have the knowledge and power to end all suffering .... etc.

Answer 7

^

You'll understand when you grow up.



That's the beauty and curse of childhood. Everything is black and white, clearly defined so to speak. But, on the same token, that makes everything one-sided.



As to the question, I think it's a cheap emotional ploy to shadow the fact that people have valid questions. It also spits in the face of everyone who has ever suffered and begged to god for help or respite. And never got it. Like someone else said, I guess they just didn't pray hard enough, huh?

Answer 8

The barber should have said, "Tell that bum to come in with some money and I'll cut his hair"



The Bum would say, "Why should I waste what little money I got on a haircut when I can buy food? My hair will just grow back eventually."

Answer 9

But barbers aren't credited with being omnipotent and ubiquitous ... while God is assumed to be this perfect, divine being?

Answer 10

You could point out the very obvious and state the fact that many DO go to god and find that nobody is there. Or, find another god altogether.

Are there experiences somehow not as valid?



Yes, your friend has made a stupid analogy that breaks down rather quickly when examined.

Answer 11

Barbers don't claim to be all knowing and all powerful and all caring.

Answer 12

I guess the starving children in Africa just don't pray hard enough, eh?



The text implies that if a person turns to God, they won't have to suffer.



We all know that's not true at all.

Answer 13

Is the barber omnipotent?

Answer 14

I certainly wouldn't deny the existance of any god if there were little god shops scattered about my town.

Answer 15

Your could make a interesting comparison with rapists, Or pedophiles.Or might as well just say preachers.

Answer 16

puhh annoying. we all know barbers exist, if god were as obvious to us as barbers, there would be more believers

Answer 17

So a guy cant afford to have his hair cut. Its not like you get god out of a vending machine, hes free. It doesn't mean hes real.

Answer 18

Is god going to charge me money if I come to him?

Answer 19

I would ask this person: "Why do I have to want to see God?" "Should He not be obvious?"