Why do non-Christians Reject the Resurrection of Jesus

[Apologia Xristou]

I am curious to know why skeptics, atheists, agnostics, and other non-Christians reject the claim that Jesus rose from the dead. I am familiar with many objections myself, but I would like to see what people here have to say about the evidence for, or lack thereof, for Jesus' resurrection.

[Superbug]

He could have resurected but resurrection contradicts what we know about biology. Once living beings die, they don't come back to life. Jesus would have been an exception. A miracle. I don't think he could have resurected by natural causes.

There have been other reported miracles besides Jesus' resurection but lots of them were frauds. The other miracles might be frauds or mistakes. This suspicion becomes especially strong when you learn to consider repeatability important as a part of your scientific education. Miracles are not repeatable.

[HRG_new]

I am curious to know why skeptics, atheists, agnostics, and other non-Christians reject the claim that Jesus rose from the dead.

And a Muslim is probably curious why Christians, skeptics, atheists etc. reject the claim that Mohammed ascended to heaven. In both cases the answer is the same: lack of extraordinary evidence for an extraordinary claim.

Let's assume that I make a billion measurements. 999,999,999 measurement results fall on a line; one is off. In the absence of extraordinary evidence (of the 1 billion:1 type) for its validity, I will regard the one off event as a measurement error.

Now let's take as the measurement "X is dead and stays dead", and the single case out of 1 billion the claim of Jesus' resurrection. If we consider the many possibilities of measurement in second- and third-hand reports of an alleged events, it should be obvious that the proffered evidence does not even come close by order of magnitude to the required level.

The reasoning would not be different if the measurement was "X did not ascend to heaven" and the single allegedly different case was the ascension of Mohammed. I am an equal-opportunity disbeliever :)

[sandlewood]

I am curious to know why skeptics, atheists, agnostics, and other non-Christians reject the claim that Jesus rose from the dead. I am familiar with many objections myself, but I would like to see what people here have to say about the evidence for, or lack thereof, for Jesus' resurrection.

Why do you reject the claim that Elvis has come back from the dead?

[sylas]

I am curious to know why skeptics, atheists, agnostics, and other non-Christians reject the claim that Jesus rose from the dead. I am familiar with many objections myself, but I would like to see what people here have to say about the evidence for, or lack thereof, for Jesus' resurrection.

My position is a bit unusual. The original basis for my questioning of the reality of the resurrection was consideration of the bible, while I was still a Christian.

I used to be a very active and committed Christian; but became an atheist at around the age of 25 or so. It was a comparatively gradual process, over six months or so. Looking back, I tend to identify my loss of belief in a historical resurrection as a key point leading to me to reconsider all my other beliefs.

At the initial stages, my basis for investigation was the bible. A major aspect was study of 1 Corinthians 15; which is probably the oldest extended account of the resurrection in the bible. I was struck that Paul's account of the resurrection had much in common with visions and dreams. Paul, of course, absolutely affirms the reality of the resurrection; but the nature of the resurrection is not simply of a dead person getting up and walking around again.

Quite some time ago I initiated a thread to discuss of some aspects of resurrection as it is described in the bible. See Resurrection.

Cheers -- Sylas

[Seasanctuary]

I am curious to know why skeptics, atheists, agnostics, and other non-Christians reject the claim that Jesus rose from the dead. I am familiar with many objections myself, but I would like to see what people here have to say about the evidence for, or lack thereof, for Jesus' resurrection.

I don't have to reject the claim to not accept it.

[Nimrod]

I am curious to know why [various people] reject the claim that Jesus rose from the dead.

Simple reason: There is no evidence that he is still alive.

Now, if you're referring to the Ascension, that's a different story ...
Is the Ascension a greater mystery than the Resurrection?

[FreeBrightMind]

I am curious to know why skeptics, atheists, agnostics, and other non-Christians reject the claim that Jesus rose from the dead. I am familiar with many objections myself, but I would like to see what people here have to say about the evidence for, or lack thereof, for Jesus' resurrection.

Why? The same reason we reject, virgin birth, walking on water, water to wine, world flood, the loch ness monster, big foot, the easter bunny, 6 day creation, feeding 5000 with 2 fish, raising the dead, paul bunion, curing blindness, lameness, lepers, deafness, casting out demons, red sox winning a world series...no wait thats real, CUBS winning the world series,
Oh and those ads for a free ipod!
There's no evidence at all. NONE!

[bhukkadakota]

I see no reason to believe the scripture as 100% historical fact. We see benny hinn perform miracles on television but do you believe he really has the power to cure the sick? If people like benny hinn can make so many people believe he has the power, then why wouldnt jesus be able to do the same in a time when people were not as sceptical as in todays society. The same reason i dont believe pythagoras walked on water and healed the sick, i also dont believe jesus raised the dead and healed the sick. Therfore i dont believe he raised from the dead.

[Seasanctuary]

There's no evidence at all. NONE!

Sure there is. Some folks in the first century wrote that he did rise from the dead.

That's some evidence.

[steamer]

feeding 5000 with 2 fish, !

You've obviously never been to a sushi bar, but did it mention they were 2 reallly HUGE fish?

[Conductor42]

I am curious to know why skeptics, atheists, agnostics, and other non-Christians reject the claim that Jesus rose from the dead. I am familiar with many objections myself, but I would like to see what people here have to say about the evidence for, or lack thereof, for Jesus' resurrection.

I don't accept it because I don't have any reason to accept it.

[Apologia Xristou]

Thank you all for your comments. They have been very enlightening so far, and I am looking forward to reading even more.


There are really only a few posts that I would like to briefly comment on:

He could have resurected but resurrection contradicts what we know about biology. Once living beings die, they don't come back to life. Jesus would have been an exception. A miracle. I don't think he could have resurected by natural causes.

Superbug, Christians are not claiming that Jesus rose from the dead by means of natural causes. On the contrary, they are claiming that God raised Jesus from the dead. If God created the universe, and established the laws of life in the universe, He can manipulate those laws as well.




Sandlewood, in answer to your question:

Why do you reject the claim that Elvis has come back from the dead?

I reject the claim that Elvis has come back from the dead, because Elvis' body is still in the grave.

Sylas, thank you for posting the link to the thread you started on the Resurrection earlier. I have just finished scanning bits of it, and I will go back and study it later on.



Thanks again for all of your comments,

Chris

[Superbug]

Superbug, Christians are not claiming that Jesus rose from the dead by means of natural causes.

I know, I just wanted to eliminate this option before proceeding with my explanation because if there were a way he could have resurrected by means of natural causes, his resurrection would have been very believable.

I reject the claim that Elvis has come back from the dead, because Elvis' body is still in the grave.

Is this the only reason? If his body were missing, would you believe he came back from the dead?

[Apologia Xristou]

I know, I just wanted to eliminate this option before proceeding with my explanation because if there were a way he could have resurrected by means of natural causes, his resurrection would have been very believable.

I see.

Is this the only reason? If his body were missing, would you believe he came back from the dead?

This is actually not the only reason. A missing body by itself does not indicate a resurrection.