God Doesn’t Exist

“I don’t believe God exists” said Mike the barber in a matter of fact way. It started simply enough. Bill 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, telling stories as usual. They talked about politics and the elections, the state of the economy, their families and kids.

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, Mike said: “I don’t believe that God exists.”

“Why do you say that?” asked Bill.

“Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn’t exist. Tell me Bill, 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.”

Bill thought for a moment but didn’t respond because he didn’t want to start an argument. Mike finished his barbering job and Bill 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 unkempt.

Bill turned back and re-entered the barbershop again and he said to Mike, 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!”  Bill 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!” Bill affirmed.