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I just received this and thought it was great, would love to share it with you guys....WHAT A GREAT ANALOGY OF GOD FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW
BY ROBIN WILLIAMS NO LESS

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 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 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 un-kept.

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 d irty 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.'
BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!

'Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you're not willing to move your feet.'

Hiya Patrick.. I am quoting this post because to a large extent it conforms to my understanding of God also.. I believe that God spirit is in us, all around us and connects us... and that collectively we have the potential to be GODLY...i.e. perfectly loving... however I don't believe we ARE God..that is where I would differ..

A poem sort of came as an inspiration to me some years ago.. which to an extent illustrates my understanding of God..I need a bright blossoming yellow flower
and passion and fire to empower
my dying romantisism
the many lights of my childishness locked
in a transparent prism

Your life isn't your own without other people...
it belongs to misery
that colourful array of sounds
is ur reason for being
don't look to the dark side
look to the bright
it is the signature of every picture

We need to find our way back to the light that is inside us.. all!! and we need to seek out the light in others.. the best way to do this is to reflect our light on them... it is like we are trapped in a prism.. we need light to give life to the many colours that we possess...

Also.. the bad bits (jealousy, envy, greed, pride etc.. etc) We ALL have in common.. it is the good bits... the endearing bits that make us unique as individuals.. now I know that you have to look alot closer in some people to see this light.. and in yet others the light is all but blacked out.. but it is never the less there..

Yes the 'alpha' and the 'omega' the beginning and the end the grand creator of this grand design... we are part of his universe, we are all connected through him, with him and in him.. it is hard to describe.. and I won't have the arrogance to assume that I have all the answers..

What do you believe Patrick.. any thought on what has been said so far.. I know that you are the type of person who requires scientific confirmation of facts.. do you believe in any entity outside urself.. like BnaturAl for example.. he has his own unique spiritual beliefs which are nevertheless spritual in origin.. whats ur take? am curious

Oops. I meant that we are part of God...I did not mean to imply that "we are God".
totally understand as well as share similar views with Aries. The concept of light as being part of the source that we come from is very fascinating.
The lovely poem that aries posted clearly motivates us to keep thinking positive and attracting what we want, and attracting what we don't want when we think negatively. I really believe that thoughts, which will one day be measured scientifically, really do manifest exactly what we want and don't want....and even in between on the emotional roller coaster if you will....
Scientific breakthroughs conceive freshly new paradigms and perceptions of how we see yourselves. What was once impossible...is now possible. Ultimately....anything is possible if you believe it to be without a trace of doubt.

I believe that we have a lot to learn about our own humanness, that our inner selves are as mysterious to us as anything in this world.

I am an Atheist. You have already stated this. I do not believe in the existence of an entity outside of ourselves, certainly not one who is interested in us.

But it is not my beliefs that were put on a thread, God??? was the Question of this thread and I am interested in how you can believe in the existence of this entity.

As a matter of fact, scientists have begun to study why some people believe and other don’t, from a biological perspective. They have identified certain naturally occurring chemicals in our bodies that can give us religious experiences. Studies of identical twins separated at birth seem to indicate that god-belief is about 50% nurture and 50% nature. Some claim to have found a “god gene” that makes people more likely to believe.

Coming from what is potentially 'polar opposites' I am not sure I would have the means or even the words to explain any more adequately than I have already attempted to.. just one of those things I guess..

I believe that we have a lot to learn about our own humanness, that our inner selves are as mysterious to us as anything in this world.

I am an Atheist. You have already stated this. I do not believe in the existence of an entity outside of ourselves, certainly not one who is interested in us.

But it is not my beliefs that were put on a thread, God??? was the Question of this thread and I am interested in how you can believe in the existence of this entity.

I totally agree. In order for this to happen, we need to radically change our educational system so we learn of which you speak of. It has too start at an early age. The whole educational system needs to be turned right side up so we can learn more about ourselves during school. Not so much of the prescribed nonsense the school systems and institutions from around the world teach us. It is a process in the making. We cannot collectively evolve overnight without learning from our experiences and making the proper choices and executing the proper actions in order to get what we want. Radical change is desperately needed. Our minds and ways of perceiving need to be revolutionary with a vision towards respected understanding and world peace that we dream of.

I somehow feel if we make into the next century without starting any more major wars we will have come a long way.

I do not refer to myself as an Atheist however, I am a Humanitarian.

I do not refer to myself as an Atheist however, I am a Humanitarian.

Why should you think for him and strongly suggest he should think otherwise? Are you nothing but the truth? Why are you so concerned about his passion in life?
Jesus told us to get wisdom and understanding. Makes your definition of love more clear.

Oh, I am not a Christian and I am not religious. I believe in some of the religious teachings and concepts, but not all of it. I have my own spirituality that I define and my reality belongs to me and nobody else. I know my journey, I am open minded and perceptive enough to see other doors when they are presented. I then make the choices on my terms. I allow the other the freedom to be and let them decide for themselves. Not to say that showing a door is wrong, but the person you showed the door to has to walk through it......sorry if that analogy was cliche, but we get the point or ?

Wanna share something else with you guys, sometimes words are not enough and to be in front of a computer in a language that's not my mother tongue doesn't help a lot, I think this quote expresses exactly how and what I think.

I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. That is clear. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in this religion or that religion, we all are seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness.
-- Dalai Lama

I really feel the pursuit of happiness alone in Western society is quite shallow. to be content and experience happiness is fine for me.

This may be fine for the Dali Lama but We have to find our own way.