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20 SEC READ: Barbers don’t

exist
Published on December 8, 2010 in 20 SECOND Stories, News and Stories. 389 Comments

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A man went to trim his hair and beard. As always happens, he and the barber
chatted about this and that, until – commenting on a newspaper article about street
kids – the barber stated:

- As you can see, this tragedy shows that God doesn’t exist. Don’t you read the
papers? So many people suffer, abandoned children, there’s so much crime. If God
existed, there wouldn’t be so much suffering.

- You know something? Barbers don’t exist.

- What do you mean, don’t exist? I’m here, and I’m a barber.

- They don’t exist! – insisted the man. – Because if they did, there wouldn’t be
people with such longs beards and such tangled hair.

- I can guarantee that barbers do exist. But these people never come in here.

- Exactly! So, in answer to your question, God exists, too. It just so happens that
people don’t go to Him. If they did, they would be more giving, and there wouldn’t
be so much misery in the world.
389 Responses to “20 SEC READ: Barbers don’t exist”

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• Astalavista

December 10, 2010 at 2:51 pm

This is typical religious drivel… one cannot explain the existence or the lack of
a god through such bed-time stories.

I am an atheist, yet I don’t cheat, steal, kill, pillage, rape, etc. Why does
being a good human being have anything to do with religion? If anything, I
believe I am good because I was raised to be good – nothing to do with
religion. Morality has nothing to do with religion or the existance of god. The
world would be a lot better place if we stopped talking about god and instead
focused on being good people. We all learn moral values as children in school
or through our parents.

Belief systems are left open to mis-interpretation, where as moral codes

aren’t – you either have good or bad – there is no gray area. In religion you
have the ability to decipher ‘god’s word’ in whatever convoluted manner you
want, hence the existence of religious fanatics.

Mr. Coelho, I am a big fan of your work, I think you should stick with fiction –
that’s your core competence. Let’s leave the preaching to the priests.

Reply

• Mitzi

December 10, 2010 at 2:15 pm

El que busca encuentra. Dios solo esta esperando a que lo busques.

Reply

• Rae Rae

December 10, 2010 at 2:11 pm

Awesome story!!

Reply
• Anuj

December 10, 2010 at 1:54 pm

A beautiful rendition of the manifestation of God but I have a little doubt. If

God does exist then he is present everywhere and someone doesn’t need to
go to him. He is God, he must be knowing every single person suffering in
this world.

Reply

o ginger

December 10, 2010 at 2:56 pm

I always do believe that God exist…but sometimes when I suffer or

when somebody from my family suffer I am…so bad that He doesn’t do
anything…Then I need Him so much and I do not feel Him…

Reply

• Niclas Wennström

December 10, 2010 at 1:45 pm

To turn to god is a temporary fix. To really sort out your life you need to be
comfortable with yourself, as you are. To believe in a thought up deity that
loves you unconditionally only replaces the real life unconditional love that
exists in those close to you.

In retrospect, this thought up deity really makes a difference for those having
a hard time in this world.

however.

What these people really need is to be loved in THIS world, not the next.

Reply

• Yez

December 10, 2010 at 1:45 pm

Great story!
 Reply

• Rixx

December 10, 2010 at 1:40 pm

this is so true.. we dont go bow before God and expect him to solve our every
problem…

Reply

• Angie Denford

December 10, 2010 at 1:33 pm

I believe that the majority of bad things that happen in the world are the
work of the Devil and that he does these things to test God’s power and the
Human strength in God. The Devil has the potential to reach into everyone of
us but we have the bigger potential to keep him out.I love the story. xx

Reply

• Maria Da Graca

December 10, 2010 at 1:32 pm

EU ACREDITO CHE ESISTE UNA FORZA MUITO GRANDE NEL UNIVERSO, E

GUESTA FORZA E DEUS.E MI FAI PENSAR CHE SE TODOS OS POVOS DO
MUNDO INTEIRO CREDECE UM POQUINHO A MAIS,NON ESISTIRIA TANTA
MISERIA.PAZ

Reply

• Nikhil

December 10, 2010 at 1:23 pm

from where do you find these stories.

So nice.

Reply

• Forouzandeh Farmani
 December 10, 2010 at 1:03 pm

an interesting way to show that if you cant observe something it does’nt

mean it ain’t exist. Here is a translation of a poem by the great Iranian
(PERSIAN) poet “HAFEZ”
“YOU ARE PURE; WE HAVE NOT KNOWN YOU AZ IT BEFITS YOU
HOW CAN ANY EYE COME TO SEE YOU AZ YOU ARE
ONE PERSEIVES YOU ONLY TO THE EXTENT OF HIS INSIGHT”

Reply

o rachma

December 10, 2010 at 2:39 pm

agree. “if you can’t observe something, it doesn’t mean it isn’t exist”
->it’s all the story is about.

Reply

• Anisha

December 10, 2010 at 12:50 pm

I wonder why throughout history mankind has constructed an image of God in

the likeness of a human…A God that makes mistakes, a God that is angry if
you dont worship Him, a God that uses Judgement to punish or reward you…
How abt If God was just not all of these above attributes…?Is too
overwhelming?
Is the misery n tragedy prevailing God’s work, or own own actions? Why do
we need an escape goat when things go wrong?

Reply

• soumaya

December 10, 2010 at 12:49 pm

sorry i don t agree with “What surprises you most about humankind?”

God is never surprised about us, bcz he is the one how creates us , how
knows us , he knows everything about us .
God is never surprised about anything bcz he is the perfect.

Reply
• Sweet lady

December 10, 2010 at 12:43 pm

Nice story…!!!

Reply

• mitra

December 10, 2010 at 12:34 pm

now many people go to evil instead of god how can help him to go to god?

Reply

• Ananthnag

December 10, 2010 at 12:26 pm

I do like you and your thoughts but I think we can cut our own hair…what’s
the need of barber??? and moreover he takes money..

Reply