Does God Exist

[rodger]

You may of read this before

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen. It's an explanation other people will understand. 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 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 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 unkempt! 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.

[ironmaiden]

This is an awesome way of explaining it thanks for sharing it!

[dxc_boy]

the man returned to the barber and compared him to what is defined as almighty and all loving

if there was defined a barber who could know all people on earth, from 10,000 BC to 4800 AD and present situations in their lives to show them the amazingness of proper haircuts and even instantly supply them - and even shape and mold their entire lives to make this haircut lifestyle applicable to people of cultures - maybe wed have an argument of a non-existant barber

[NinjaWizards777]

well I think the argument is that the reason brokeness has such prevailance in peoples lives alot of times is because they dont seem to know God on a personal level. Even when they do, like in my case...drifting away from that and getting caught up in this supposed "cursed" world is like shutting a door on God and leaving us open to deception and suffering all over again. and many times its not til were broken to pieces spirtually that we remember/realize our need for Him

I think thats part of the reason God allowed sin to begin with...because without it we would (probably) never realize our need for him.

[dxc_boy]

alright alright

if it can be broken down like that, and it is a metaphor

but it seems that suffering only creates a rejection of any one trying to offering hope, rather than illustrate a need for god

kids born with terribly deformed legs, genocide, mass pandemics and tragedies - these all call for some kind of saviour, but if that saviour is sent from someone who supposedly is all knowing and all good, supposedly also created the situation

this cant be answered with such a simple metaphor that doesnt address the wider consequences of the christian definition of god in regards to a world where gods greatest opposition sin is so rampant, where the good guys usually dont win and saviours really are a dime a dozen

[dattaswami2]

Originally Posted by rodger

You may of read this before

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen. It's an explanation other people will understand. 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 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 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 unkempt! 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.

You must realize that the whole world is the kingdom of God as stated by Jesus. Any injustice will be punished by Him and you need not worry about it. Your view of the punishment is revenge but His view of punishment is to transform the soul. If somebody has stolen your money, don’t pray to God to punish that person. Everything is recorded by Him unlike the courts which register the case only when a complaint is given.

The enquiry by God takes place immediately. Sometimes you find no punishment from God and you are scolding God. The silence of God means that the enquiry was completed and the judgment was “no punishment”. In the previous birth, you might have stolen money from that person and today you paid along with the compound interest. In this case there cannot be punishment and the enquiry was over. Since you do not know this, you mistake God for His silence.

Suppose such background is not there, then you will get your money with interest in some other way which is compensated by God. That person will lose the money along with the interest. You will see it with your eyes. But suppose you cursed that person with revenge, you will receive the punishment in addition to the above. Kauravas (demons) stole a share of wealth of Pandavas (devotees of God) and finally they lost their whole kingdom. Pandavas gained the total kingdom which is double the share. But Draupadi (wife of pandavas) was cursing Kauravas aspiring always for the revenge.

She was also punished for this as she lost all her children. Therefore, we should not scold even our enemy even by words or mind. God takes care of the entire case. If the injustice wins, it is a black mark for His administration only. He is well aware of it and will take the necessary action. He is more serious in your case than yourself. Unlike the court, He does not require registration of case or witness or advocate. When Hiranyakashipu (a demon) tortured Prahlada (a boy devotee), Prahalada kept silent and did not curse him in any way.

The Lord took very serious action in that case. Thus you have to keep God at every step as the basis in the worldly life also (Pravrutti). Jesus told that unless you excuse others, you cannot be excused by God. Your enemy will be punished if he does not excuse others. Such behaviour which indicates the full faith on God at every step of the life is divine Dharma in Pravrutti or Nivrtutti.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by dattaswami2

You must realize that the whole world is the kingdom of God as stated by Jesus. Any injustice will be punished by Him and you need not worry about it. Your view of the punishment is revenge but His view of punishment is to transform the soul. If somebody has stolen your money, don’t pray to God to punish that person. Everything is recorded by Him unlike the courts which register the case only when a complaint is given.

The enquiry by God takes place immediately. Sometimes you find no punishment from God and you are scolding God. The silence of God means that the enquiry was completed and the judgment was “no punishment”. In the previous birth, you might have stolen money from that person and today you paid along with the compound interest. In this case there cannot be punishment and the enquiry was over. Since you do not know this, you mistake God for His silence.

Suppose such background is not there, then you will get your money with interest in some other way which is compensated by God. That person will lose the money along with the interest. You will see it with your eyes. But suppose you cursed that person with revenge, you will receive the punishment in addition to the above. Kauravas (demons) stole a share of wealth of Pandavas (devotees of God) and finally they lost their whole kingdom. Pandavas gained the total kingdom which is double the share. But Draupadi (wife of pandavas) was cursing Kauravas aspiring always for the revenge.

She was also punished for this as she lost all her children. Therefore, we should not scold even our enemy even by words or mind. God takes care of the entire case. If the injustice wins, it is a black mark for His administration only. He is well aware of it and will take the necessary action. He is more serious in your case than yourself. Unlike the court, He does not require registration of case or witness or advocate. When Hiranyakashipu (a demon) tortured Prahlada (a boy devotee), Prahalada kept silent and did not curse him in any way.

The Lord took very serious action in that case. Thus you have to keep God at every step as the basis in the worldly life also (Pravrutti). Jesus told that unless you excuse others, you cannot be excused by God. Your enemy will be punished if he does not excuse others. Such behaviour which indicates the full faith on God at every step of the life is divine Dharma in Pravrutti or Nivrtutti.

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Dattaswami,

Where does the Lord Jesus Christ say that the whole world is the Kingdom of God?

There is only one God and that is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one way to approach God and that is the way that He has chosen, through belief in the all-sufficient sacrifice, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sin and suffering entered the world through the disobedience of one (Adam) and death has reigned since then. But through the obedience of one (Christ) the power of death has been destroyed for all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a hope in Christ Jesus of resurrection life, so that our hope in not for this life only.

With this hope before us we can endure the hardships and difficulties that life brings, as did our Saviour, who for the hope laid before Him endured the shame and the suffering of the cross of Calvary for us.

We do not know or acknowledge either the relevancy or truth of what you claim.

In Christ our risen and glorified,
Saviour, Lord and Head
Christ Jesus

[dattaswami2]

Originally Posted by Chris

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Dattaswami,

Where does the Lord Jesus Christ say that the whole world is the Kingdom of God?

There is only one God and that is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one way to approach God and that is the way that He has chosen, through belief in the all-sufficient sacrifice, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sin and suffering entered the world through the disobedience of one (Adam) and death has reigned since then. But through the obedience of one (Christ) the power of death has been destroyed for all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a hope in Christ Jesus of resurrection life, so that our hope in not for this life only.

With this hope before us we can endure the hardships and difficulties that life brings, as did our Saviour, who for the hope laid before Him endured the shame and the suffering of the cross of Calvary for us.

We do not know or acknowledge either the relevancy or truth of what you claim.

In Christ our risen and glorified,
Saviour, Lord and Head
Christ Jesus

Unless you love Jesus and prepared to suffer for His mission and love Him leaving every thing you are not salvated.

[dattaswami2]

Originally Posted by Chris

--------------------------------------------------------

Dattaswami,

Where does the Lord Jesus Christ say that the whole world is the Kingdom of God?

There is only one God and that is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one way to approach God and that is the way that He has chosen, through belief in the all-sufficient sacrifice, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sin and suffering entered the world through the disobedience of one (Adam) and death has reigned since then. But through the obedience of one (Christ) the power of death has been destroyed for all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a hope in Christ Jesus of resurrection life, so that our hope in not for this life only.

With this hope before us we can endure the hardships and difficulties that life brings, as did our Saviour, who for the hope laid before Him endured the shame and the suffering of the cross of Calvary for us.

We do not know or acknowledge either the relevancy or truth of what you claim.

In Christ our risen and glorified,
Saviour, Lord and Head
Christ Jesus

Analysis of misery in life – the way to look at it


A learned soul will not ask for stopping misery because God has already cut the salt cake to the required size and it has to be finished. The dosage of misery selected by God is like the dosage of medicine selected by the doctor who analyzes the disease properly. You should not decide about the use of medicine or its dosage. You are an ignorant patient and you are not aware of your internal structure. The doctor has scanned the internal organs and knows the dosage of the medicine. The doctor knows whether the medicines are to be used or whether the surgery is necessary in the hell. Therefore, you should not pray God to avoid the hell also. How can the patient say that the surgery should be avoided in his case? Even if the soul is thrown in to hell for surgery, the soul should see the kindness of the Doctor-God. Therefore, the soul, surrendered to God will never ask for the removal of misery.

It should ask only for the removal of ignorance-illness. The method of treatment is selected by the Satguru-Doctor-God. Often, the patient cries due to the pain caused by the injection of medicine or surgery and prays to stop the injection of medicine or surgery like the ignorant child. The learned patient will not find fault with the doctor and the doctor will not bother about that pain. Kuchela (Sudama) was suffering with severe poverty and he did not pray Krishna to remove his poverty because he was a scholar of scriptures. The Lord also kept silent during his misery since the patient is learned and tolerates the pain of the injection of medicine. If the injection here is denied, the patient certainly needs surgery in the hell. The surgery is far more painful than the injection. Neither the Lord is unkind nor Sudama is ignorant. The father and son are learned doctors and therefore there is no need of the interference of any third party between them. Rukmini, the wife of the Lord being the mother of the souls recommended the case of Sudama to the Lord. The wife of Sudama was also highly emotional because the Lord being the friend of her husband is keeping silent. She was emotional due to the motherly pain on seeing her starving children.

Both the women could not understand the truth, which was known both to the Father (Lord) and the son (Sudama). Some scholars ask God to exhaust all the sins by continuous punishments so that they can have continuous bliss. It is just like asking the doctor to give a dozen injections on one day itself. This is also another type of ignorance since the patient wants to take the full dosage of medicines immediately so that illness should disappear on the spot. You must leave every thing to the divine doctor and you should surrender to the doctor who is the best judge of the medicine and its dosage.

If all the sins are exhausted, the soul will be bored with continuous happiness and the misery due to boring is generated. In the beginning (Kruta Yuga) there was continuous happiness because God created pure souls only. In course of time the continuous happiness bored them and misery was generated from the continuous happiness itself. Happiness is the mother of misery. The misery produced in the continuous happiness is special because it is generated without any sin. Therefore, God never created misery. Hence, both who like to stop misery and who like to continue the miseries are not wise because the patients are becoming doctors in their own cases. Even a doctor on becoming a patient consults another doctor. In such case the patient who is not a doctor acting as doctor in his own case is really pitiable.

[Chris]

Dattaswami,

You appear to be on the wrong forum, for this is a Christian Forum, dedicated to the truth concerning Christ and the will of the Father concerning those who have placed their trust in His Faithfulness, found in the Bible.

It is the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ whom we worship, and whom we serve, so your words have no relevance here.

You would be better served reading the scriptures for yourself, for the good news concerning Christ our Saviour is for you too.

In the name of Christ Jesus our risen and glorified Lord.
Chris