Why I can't accept Christianity

Kim7229

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Hi! I'm new to these forums.

I was a Christian for many years and never gave it much intellectual thought. Over the last couple years, I started to use reason and logic to analyze the claims which were associated with Christianity as well as what is written in the Bible. Upon doing this, I came to the conclusion that much of what is written in the Bible is mythology. However, many of my good friends as well as my family still attend church and find being in the community so rewarding. I've tried to attend with them, as I don't want to lose the community aspect. But I feel guilty taking up space in the church when I don't believe any of what they're talking about.

The main reasons I can't accept it:
1) contradictions in the Bible
2) the Bible advocates slaughter and killing
3) the logical problems of omniscience, omnipotence and omnibenevolence
4) the mafia boss aspect of it (e.g. "if you don't believe this, you will rot in hell")
 

JerseyChristianSuperstar

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1) There are no contradictions in the Bible.

2) The Bible specifically prohibits us from murdering others (Exodus 20:13), we can only kill in self-defense or as part of a capital punishment process initiated by the state or by God Himself. The places where God instructed people to kill in the OT were only for certain points in time. Hell, if it weren't for God, there would still be a lot of cults brutally murdering their children as part of pagan child sacrifice rituals, which God prohibited.

3) Explain how the three are all contradictory.

4) We all deserve Hell for sinning against an infinitely holy, just God, and have merited an infinite, eternal punishment, and it would be perfectly okay for God to throw all of us into the furnace of fire.
 
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Maria Billingsley

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Hi! I'm new to these forums.

I was a Christian for many years and never gave it much intellectual thought. Over the last couple years, I started to use reason and logic to analyze the claims which were associated with Christianity as well as what is written in the Bible. Upon doing this, I came to the conclusion that much of what is written in the Bible is mythology. However, many of my good friends as well as my family still attend church and find being in the community so rewarding. I've tried to attend with them, as I don't want to lose the community aspect. But I feel guilty taking up space in the church when I don't believe any of what they're talking about.

The main reasons I can't accept it:
1) contradictions in the Bible
2) the Bible advocates slaughter and killing
3) the logical problems of omniscience, omnipotence and omnibenevolence
4) the mafia boss aspect of it (e.g. "if you don't believe this, you will rot in hell")

We all have free will. The beginning of any relationship is the will and desire to have one. All your reasons for not being a Christian can be answered however you will need to search them out yourself. If deep down you desire a one on one relationship with your Creator, you will seek Him out. I believe your post is a good start! If your open, there is a documentary called "A case for Christ", may be good to see what others did to overcome these obstacles.
Blessings
 
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joinfree

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Hi! I'm new to these forums.

I was a Christian for many years and never gave it much intellectual thought. Over the last couple years, I started to use reason and logic to analyze the claims which were associated with Christianity as well as what is written in the Bible. Upon doing this, I came to the conclusion that much of what is written in the Bible is mythology. However, many of my good friends as well as my family still attend church and find being in the community so rewarding. I've tried to attend with them, as I don't want to lose the community aspect. But I feel guilty taking up space in the church when I don't believe any of what they're talking about.

The main reasons I can't accept it:
1) contradictions in the Bible
2) the Bible advocates slaughter and killing
3) the logical problems of omniscience, omnipotence and omnibenevolence
4) the mafia boss aspect of it (e.g. "if you don't believe this, you will rot in hell")
Theology is Science, isn't it? Burden of Proof is Presumption of Non-existence? Like of God's?
 
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Dave L

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Hi! I'm new to these forums.

I was a Christian for many years and never gave it much intellectual thought. Over the last couple years, I started to use reason and logic to analyze the claims which were associated with Christianity as well as what is written in the Bible. Upon doing this, I came to the conclusion that much of what is written in the Bible is mythology. However, many of my good friends as well as my family still attend church and find being in the community so rewarding. I've tried to attend with them, as I don't want to lose the community aspect. But I feel guilty taking up space in the church when I don't believe any of what they're talking about.

The main reasons I can't accept it:
1) contradictions in the Bible
2) the Bible advocates slaughter and killing
3) the logical problems of omniscience, omnipotence and omnibenevolence
4) the mafia boss aspect of it (e.g. "if you don't believe this, you will rot in hell")

Many confused preachers depict God as a bully who threatens to torture a person if they don't say "uncle". Or a sleazy conman who tries to buy them off with eternal rewards if the "say uncle". So your reaction is to be expected. But the God of the bible is merciful and loving to the extent he took the punishment due to us, in himself as Christ on the cross. For all who place their trust in him.

If you consider, we are a wicked species who deserve the worst, then you can understand it is because God is good and Just that he punishes the wicked. But Christians on the other hand tell people how to escape God's wrath through Christ. And we don't use violence, but love our enemies and go out of our ways to help them.
 
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SavedByGrace3

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Hi! I'm new to these forums.

I was a Christian for many years and never gave it much intellectual thought. Over the last couple years, I started to use reason and logic to analyze the claims which were associated with Christianity as well as what is written in the Bible. Upon doing this, I came to the conclusion that much of what is written in the Bible is mythology. However, many of my good friends as well as my family still attend church and find being in the community so rewarding. I've tried to attend with them, as I don't want to lose the community aspect. But I feel guilty taking up space in the church when I don't believe any of what they're talking about.

The main reasons I can't accept it:
1) contradictions in the Bible
2) the Bible advocates slaughter and killing
3) the logical problems of omniscience, omnipotence and omnibenevolence
4) the mafia boss aspect of it (e.g. "if you don't believe this, you will rot in hell")

These sorts of issues exist in every reference book. political ideology, and even science.
Do you all out reject everything because of unresolved issues? Do you accept nothing at all?
Rejection due to a lack of perfection and objection to the unknown/unresolved is in itself not logical.
The fact is Christianity is a faith... not a science. It was never intended to be a topic approached with scientific method. You just believe... and it pleases God. That is what matters.
 
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chuckpeterson

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I was a Christian for many years and never gave it much intellectual thought. Over the last couple years, I started to use reason and logic to analyze the claims which were associated with Christianity as well as what is written in the Bible.

You do not have to embrace all the Ten Commandments to embrace Christian values. Many of the Ten Commandments have been put into "law" in every country on this planet regardless of the faith of that country. This alone should give you reason to hold that faith and not reject it.

At least in my view of things.

Ten Commandments

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
5. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
6. Thou shalt not kill. (murder)
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
 
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St_Worm2

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Hi! I'm new to these forums.

I was a Christian for many years and never gave it much intellectual thought. Over the last couple years, I started to use reason and logic to analyze the claims which were associated with Christianity as well as what is written in the Bible. Upon doing this, I came to the conclusion that much of what is written in the Bible is mythology. However, many of my good friends as well as my family still attend church and find being in the community so rewarding. I've tried to attend with them, as I don't want to lose the community aspect. But I feel guilty taking up space in the church when I don't believe any of what they're talking about.

The main reasons I can't accept it:
1) contradictions in the Bible
2) the Bible advocates slaughter and killing
3) the logical problems of omniscience, omnipotence and omnibenevolence
4) the mafia boss aspect of it (e.g. "if you don't believe this, you will rot in hell")
Hi Kim, first off, WELCOME TO CF :wave:

If you wouldn't mind, please give us a couple of examples of the Biblical "contradictions" that you are referring to so that we can see them for ourselves? (I've found a number of "apparent" contradictions in the Bible, especially at first blush, but I've never found any actual contradictions in the OT or in the New)

As to your second point above, where do you believe that the Bible "advocates" for the killing of innocents (well, except for Jesus, that is)?

Also, we can talk more about the Lord's attributes if you'd like to, but here's something to consider in the meantime, can you imagine what God would be like if He was just like us :eek: (IOW, not omnipotent, not omniscient, and not omnipresent)?

One of the big reasons that I finally decided to trust Him/surrender the reins of my life to Him and become a Christian was because of those attributes of His, because I realized that He could see the big picture about my present and my future life that I could not, and because I knew I could trust all of the wondrous promises that He made to us (~because~ He is all-powerful, all-knowing, present everywhere and at every moment in time, and eternal, and as such, knows the end of everything from the very beginning).

The fact that He proved how much He loves and cares for us by sending His Son here to die for us and save us played a big part in my decision as well, of course :)

Finally, while Mafia bosses may send their sons out to kill people, they'd never send their sons to die in their victims places and save them instead. Also, when have you ever heard of Mafia bosses warning people about the age to come, and what eternity will be like for them apart from Jesus?

If what the Bible tells us about life beyond the grave is true, and we have every reason to believe that it is (since much of what is said about eternity in the Bible comes directly from God Himself), wouldn't you rather know the truth about it now while there's still time to do something about it, rather than when you are standing before Him at the Judgment when it's too late? In fact, if you did end up at the Judgment not knowing the truth, wouldn't you complain bitterly and ask Him why He didn't bother to warn you? I know I would!

Thanks!

Yours and His,
David

John 3:16
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
.
 
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Brotherly Spirit

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All the above are great responses. I'll just highlight the parts about faith and values. A believer doesn't need to know everything and understand it. What's important is having faith trusting there's a truth beyond themselves, but if they believe even what's not understood could add significantly to them. Something that can be experienced by changes in yourself and life. These things are put in place and we don't always understand how and why. But if we want understanding and have things of value, we must open ourselves to receive by faith but also let it be tested in time to gain understanding.

You're not wasting your time or taking space, just seeking God and trying to learn what his message means and how you're to apply it to your life. A great place to start is the Gospel of Jesus, his whole life was the embodiment of God and he gave his life for us; he showed mercy for people who sinned so they were forgiven and even those who continued sinning had warning of it's consequences. When the woman was brought to Jesus to test him, the Pharisees said she was an adulteress and asked him what should be done; Jesus exposed their hypocrisy saying whoever has not sin throw the first stone and when all walked away convicted in their hearts he said to her mercifully not to sin again (John 8:1-11).
 
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2PhiloVoid

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Hi! I'm new to these forums.

I was a Christian for many years and never gave it much intellectual thought. Over the last couple years, I started to use reason and logic to analyze the claims which were associated with Christianity as well as what is written in the Bible. Upon doing this, I came to the conclusion that much of what is written in the Bible is mythology. However, many of my good friends as well as my family still attend church and find being in the community so rewarding. I've tried to attend with them, as I don't want to lose the community aspect. But I feel guilty taking up space in the church when I don't believe any of what they're talking about.

The main reasons I can't accept it:
1) contradictions in the Bible
2) the Bible advocates slaughter and killing
3) the logical problems of omniscience, omnipotence and omnibenevolence
4) the mafia boss aspect of it (e.g. "if you don't believe this, you will rot in hell")

If true, then those are definitely some legitimate gripes to be laid at the foot of the entry way door of Jesus. But, may I ask, how did you arrive at these four conclusions? What books, youtube videos, or speakers did you hear that most prompted you to settle at these four ultimate reality check points?

Thanks for sharing, Kim! :cool:
 
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Hi! I'm new to these forums.

I was a Christian for many years and never gave it much intellectual thought. Over the last couple years, I started to use reason and logic to analyze the claims which were associated with Christianity as well as what is written in the Bible. Upon doing this, I came to the conclusion that much of what is written in the Bible is mythology. However, many of my good friends as well as my family still attend church and find being in the community so rewarding. I've tried to attend with them, as I don't want to lose the community aspect. But I feel guilty taking up space in the church when I don't believe any of what they're talking about.

The main reasons I can't accept it:
1) contradictions in the Bible
2) the Bible advocates slaughter and killing
3) the logical problems of omniscience, omnipotence and omnibenevolence
4) the mafia boss aspect of it (e.g. "if you don't believe this, you will rot in hell")
Hi Kim,
Nice to meet you. I am new as well. And good for you for using logic, the key to identifying the error in the doctrines of religious Christianity. Mythology indicates something that is imaginary; not real. The Old Testament is a history of the children of Israel. They were real, "chosen" to teach us about ourselves, as the Bible takes place within us.

1) Some contradictions are due to our lack of understanding. Others (e.g., those of the New Testament) are quite valid, and for good reason. 2) The stories involving slaughter and murder have important symbolic meaning, so that we may understand the spiritual truths behind them, understanding what has caused us to commit these acts, spiritually, from within our own heart. When you understand the symbolism, it opens up a whole new level of understanding! 3) if you meant omniscient, that pertains to having an infinite (vast, immense) awareness of ourselves, which is the divine purpose of the Bible. Omnipotent is the point at which we are solely influence by a power that is positive and constructive. Omnibenevolence is the result of the other two in this divine triad. To reach this spiritual state requires a willingness to understand ourselves, and complete the spiritual (internal) works through which we come to perfect love from within our own heart. 4) This is the humiliating spirit of religion.

You are in a good place. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
 
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Kim7229

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1) There are no contradictions in the Bible.
That's not true. See Bible Inconsistencies - Bible Contradictions

2) The Bible specifically prohibits us from murdering others (Exodus 20:13), we can only kill in self-defense or as part of a capital punishment process initiated by the state or by God Himself. The places where God instructed people to kill in the OT were only for certain points in time. Hell, if it weren't for God, there would still be a lot of cults brutally murdering their children as part of pagan child sacrifice rituals, which God prohibited.
So you dismiss certain portions of the Bible. Can you help me understand the process you use to determine which portions to dismiss and which portions to accept?

3) Explain how the three are all contradictory.
There are many places on the web where it is very eloquently explained. A quick search for "the problem of evil" or "the problem of omniscience" will yield numerous links which will show you how they are contradictory. But the sites I like the most are:
Invisible Pink Unicorn
Invisible Pink Unicorn

OR in a nutshell:

Premise 1: Evil exists (e.g. torture, rape, terrorism, tornadoes, the holocaust, tsunamis, babies getting cancer, etc.)
Premise 2: God is omnipotent: he is capable of doing something about evil.
Premise 3: God is omnibenevolent: he does not want evil to exist.
Premise 4: God is omniscient: he must know about all evil in the world.
5) From premises 2, 3 & 4: a God with these attributes would prevent evil occurring
6) From (5), evil exists ergo an omnipotent, omnibenevolent & omniscient God does not exist
While this doesn't show that God doesn't exist, it does force us to rethink our idea of what attributes God has.
Some will argue that God must allow evil in order to accomplish some kind of greater good. But if God is onmipotent, he could accomplish his greater good without the evil occurring. Others will say that God must allow evil to avoid interfering with free will. But if God can do anything, then for example, he could have rerouted the jetliners which struck the WTC on 9/11 and had them safely land. By doing this, he hasn't interfered with anyone's free will.

4) We all deserve Hell for sinning against an infinitely holy, just God, and have merited an infinite, eternal punishment, and it would be perfectly okay for God to throw all of us into the furnace of fire.
That wouldn't be what a loving god would do.
 
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Kim7229

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We all have free will. The beginning of any relationship is the will and desire to have one. All your reasons for not being a Christian can be answered however you will need to search them out yourself. If deep down you desire a one on one relationship with your Creator, you will seek Him out. I believe your post is a good start! If your open, there is a documentary called "A case for Christ", may be good to see what others did to overcome these obstacles.
Blessings
When you say 'Creator', do you mean the most direct creator (e.g. my parents) or the most indirect creator (e.g. A was created by B, B was created by C, C was created by D and we can't go back beyond D, so in this case it would be D)?

How can one have a relationship with something they don't believe to exist? Have you ever had a relationship with something you didn't believe to exist?
 
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Kim7229

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Kim7229

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Many confused preachers depict God as a bully who threatens to torture a person if they don't say "uncle". Or a sleazy conman who tries to buy them off with eternal rewards if the "say uncle". So your reaction is to be expected. But the God of the bible is merciful and loving to the extent he took the punishment due to us, in himself as Christ on the cross. For all who place their trust in him.

If you consider, we are a wicked species who deserve the worst, then you can understand it is because God is good and Just that he punishes the wicked. But Christians on the other hand tell people how to escape God's wrath through Christ. And we don't use violence, but love our enemies and go out of our ways to help them.
Dave - thanks for your response. If God is good, then he must either not know about evil or must not be able to do anything about evil. If God is good, then which of those two do you think is more likely to be the case?
 
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Dave - thanks for your response. If God is good, then he must either not know about evil or must not be able to do anything about evil. If God is good, then which of those two do you think is more likely to be the case?

Thanks for the comments. I've accepted this explanation of God and evil by Gordon Clark for some time now. (He taught philosophy at Butler University in Indianapolis and authored several books referring to the subject.)

"How can the existence of God be harmonized with the existence of evil?" If God is all-good, He would want to destroy evil. If God is all-powerful, He is able to destroy evil. But evil still exists. It seems that God cannot be both all-good and all-powerful. However, Christianity teaches that He is both. This is the problem of evil."

Clark stated that, "God's causing a man to sin is not sin. There is no law, superior to God, which forbids him to decree sinful acts. Sin presupposes a law, for sin is lawlessness." Clark explained that "God is above law" because "the laws that God imposes on men do not apply to the divine nature."

This has bearing on our understanding of "free will", sin and punishment, and many other passages in scripture revealing God's hatred of sinners and his love and mercy on those whom he chooses to save from among them.
 
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Kim7229

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These sorts of issues exist in every reference book. political ideology, and even science.
Do you all out reject everything because of unresolved issues? Do you accept nothing at all?
No. I reject things if the quality, quantity and reliability of the evidence doesn't match up with that of the claim(s). In the case of Christianity and its associated miracles, there just isn't sufficient evidence to match up with these extraordinary claims.

Rejection due to a lack of perfection and objection to the unknown/unresolved is in itself not logical.
Why is that not logical? If I posited that the Norse God Thor was the only true path to happiness and an eternal life, you would reject that. Would it not be logical for you to reject it?

The fact is Christianity is a faith... not a science. It was never intended to be a topic approached with scientific method. You just believe... and it pleases God. That is what matters.
I agree it is more about faith. But it does contain scientific claims, and those claims need to be held up against the rigors of scientific tests.
 
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Kim7229

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You do not have to embrace all the Ten Commandments to embrace Christian values. Many of the Ten Commandments have been put into "law" in every country on this planet regardless of the faith of that country. This alone should give you reason to hold that faith and not reject it.
I still hold all my Christian values which I grew up with. I merely don't believe that a god actually exists. Nor do I think the Bible is a book of history.
 
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