What are some speciifcs intellectual reasons people may reject the gospel?

Answer 1

1. There is no objective evidence that God exists.

   Apologists and philosophers have attempted to devise such proofs as the teleological argument, the ontological argument,the cosmological argument and so on. Various versions of these arguments are discussed by pious Christians but, while they can no doubt reinforce the faith of those who already believe, they are unsound arguments that provide no proof of God for those seeking to find the truth. Why worship a God who does not exist?

2. Much of the Old Testament clearly consists of myth and legend.

   Even the early Church Father, Origen, said that no man of intelligence will believe The Bible's creation story (On First Principles, 3.1.1). There are two different Flood stories in the Bible, with small but significant differences. Archaeologists say there was no Exodus from Egypt as described in the Bible, and no military conquest of Canaan. The list is almost endless. Moreover it is clear from the Bible itself that the early Hebrews did worship more than just one God.

3. The New Testament is not as provable as once claimed.

   Conservative Christians once claimed that the existence of four different gospels, two of which were written by eyewitnesses to the events described, was ample evidence of their veracity. They even said that the differences amongst the gospels is not a weakness but rather evidence that they came from different eyewitnesses with different perspectives. We now know that the gospels were written anonymously and only attributed to the apostles whose names they now bear, later in the second century. They were not written by eyewitnesses or persons who knew eyewitnesses. We also know that three of the gospels (Matthew, Luke and John) were based, directly or indirectly on one original gospel, Mark. If there is any reason to doubt Mark, as there is, then there is no firm basis at all for the Christian gospel.

From the NT perspective:1. Pride

1 Timothy 6:3-5 - If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

Mark 7:9 - He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition."

2. Greed

Matthew 19:21, 22 - Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Philippians 3:18, 19 - For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame-who set their mind on earthly things.

3. Ignorance

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

1 Corinthians 6:9a - Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived.

[Quotes from NKJV]

Answer 2

Another answer from our community:

I think there are few moral grounds for rejecting the Bible because the Bible (10 commandments ) has been the basis of western civilization's laws for a long time.

But some people may say -if God is a God of love then how come He allows people to be killed in wars natural disasters etc.

For example I heard someone say this about the tsunami that recently hit Japan. But why should God show any favour towards Japan do the people of Japan worship God? give Him the praise and honour He deserves as the creator and sustainer of life?

Love is only one part of God's character. The Bible also talks about the wrath of God, the goodness and severity of God or God the judge.

Maybe on the grounds of their own morals people reject the gospel. The Bible clearly says homosexuality is wrong but many people think everybody has the right to be who/what they want.
Personally, my problems with Christianity can be summed up by the story of Job. If you are not familiar with it, Google "the story of Job" and come back.

Back? Okay good. Basically I feel that story says you can treat (or allow to be treated, in this case) someone you claim to love, and as long as you help them afterward, there's no problem. basically I can beat my wife and kids and as long as I fix them up after, everything is fine. This is a horrible example of a "loving God" that I just can't seem to justify putting my faith in.

Beyond that, I don't feel the clergy as a whole has the true meaning of the good lessons. There are exceptions, of course but, not enough. The church seems to have more punishments in mind for its congregation than praise.

And that the Roman Catholic church is basically responsible for the Dark Age making them the reason I don't have flying car! So to hell with them.
One of the moral reasons people may reject the gospel, is that their interpretation of the scriptures is different than yours. For example, you may believe that the Bible clearly prohibits homosexual behavior, but some people may reject the gospel because they believe that God accepts everyone as they are. You may believe that homosexual attraction is a weakness that has been given to some people to overcome in order to come to God, but they may believe that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality and it need not be overcome, but accepted. We are commanded to love all people, but we are not commanded to love or accept the sins that they commit.

Answer 3

A:People who reject the Christian gospel do not reject morality or the rule of law. Most reject the gospel on intellectual or rational grounds, rather than for emotional reasons.

Others

find that Christianity as a belief system is full of inconsistencies, based on inconsistent scriptures, and see no reason to blindly follow what others believe.Still others can not accept a religion in which some clergy perform the most grievous sins, such as paedophilia, and senior clergy support and shield them.

A:They may have been already in very commited religon or they may just not want to admit their sins

Answer 4

Few people would reject the Christian gospel on moral grounds. Some would reject it on emotional grounds, for example after hearing of the predatory sexual behaviour of Catholic priests and other clergy. But by far, the most common reasons for rejecting the Christian gospel is that the Christian gospel is simply not believed.

Some who do not believe the Christian gospel do so because it conflicts with their own religious beliefs. This is just as rational as for a Christian not to believe in, say, the Hindu faith because it conflicts with his or her own religious beliefs.

Others reject the Christian gospel for intellectual reasons. They realise that there is no proof that God exists. They also realise that the Bible is far from infallible, with many inconsistencies and errors. Many simply do not believe in the truth of any religion, Christian or otherwise.

Answer 5

People who reject the Christian gospel do not reject morality or the rule of law. Most reject the gospel on intellectual or rational grounds, rather than for moral reasons. Of course, this can be one reason for at least some people who no longer believe the Bible.
The Ten Commandments can be a reason because, for example, the tenth commandment says not to covert your neighbour's male or female slaves (euphemistically translated into English in some Bibles as 'manservant and maidservant). The degree to which the Bible seems to support slavery can be offputting for some.

The fifth commandment, to honour your father and mother, seems harmless enough until we see elsewhere in the Old Testament that a son who so much as curses his father must be killed.
We all agree with the sixth commandment, not to kill. But the Bible is full of divinely sanctioned instances of murder and even genocide. Who could believe in a God whose scriptures say that he sanctions murder?

Others may look outside the Bible and still see sound moral reasons not to accept the gospels and all they stand for. Paedophilia is apparently not restricted to Catholic clergy, but is a serious issue in various Christians faiths. If the gospels can not even inspire religious leaders to show moral leadership, some would say they are of no value. They could feel uncomfortable leaving a child alone with a member of the clergy.