Was Paul see that the christianity was on the rise and jumped ship to save himself?

Question

I find it hard to believe that a cynic like Paul who spent all of his time stoning christians would just suddenly, out of the blue, have a revelation that he should become one.

Isn't it more likely he saw that christianity was growing in popularity and the more he oppressed them the more powerful they became? So he decided to jump on the bandwagon to avoid having the rising religion turn on him?

This way he would have whole new enemies and allies. If he'd lived long enough would he have become a Muslim warrior next?

For whoever is going to say 'No, god made him see the light', please, grow up. There are no miracles. People who switch sides like this are as full of it as you can be.

*DID Paul see that christianity was on the rise and jumped ship to save himself?

Damn it. Forgot to read it before I hit submit

Samantha - People die for lies everyday. Go to Iraq if you want to see it in action.

Answer 1

No, people do not die for lies. If Paul's faith were just based on the changing of the wind, would he not renounce it before being killed for it?

"Samantha - People die for lies everyday. Go to Iraq if you want to see it in action." It is not a lie if they believe in it. I am not saying that it is absolutely truth, but they believe it to be so. Your question implied that Paul didn't actually believe that Jesus was the Messiah, he just wanted to be on the "winning side". So, he would willingly die for that which he KNOWS is a lie, that just doesn't make sense.

Answer 2

Paul was a zealot as both a Jew and Christian. Paul worked for the highest Jewish authorities at the time, and then began working for the lowest scum as far as the Jews were concerned. This would be like Condolezza Rice joining Al-Qaida because she believed Al-Qaida will eventually become the dominent world superpower. Why would anyone leave a high position with a high authority on the gamble that a grass roots organization will grow to overcome that authority? Your suggestion does not make practical real world sense. No, Paul was simply a man who lived by extremes and changed his mind in an extreme way. That is understandable. What you don't understand is that Paul was an extremist.

Answer 3

Excellent question... one of the best ones I've read in all of Yahoo! Answers.

Most Christians probably don't know that Paul was a devout Jew who openly persecuted the original followers of Christ. Yep, he definitely jumped ship.

Some will think he did so because he saw "the light" and others will think he did so for political reasons and personal gain.

Whichever is the truth, it probably wasn't an easy decision. Those earliest Christians were still very much a minority. Many were burned at the stake or fed to the lions. Meetings had to be held in secret to avoid persecution. Paul was eventually imprisoned in Rome and killed there for being a Christian.

Answer 4

I read through your question and it is obvious by your additional remarks that anyone with an opinion/idea different from your own is rejected out of hand.... which is really too bad.

"For whoever is going to say 'No, god made him see the light', please, grow up. There are no miracles. People who switch sides like this are as full of it as you can be."

It must be tough to live without having seen a miracle or believing they can happen to you. I hope you reach a point in your life where you are not so cynical.

Answer 5

WOW--i feel sorry for you. All your questions have to do with faith and Christianity but you are so cynical and turned off by even the idea that it could be true. If you would read the whole of the New Testament, 2/3rds of which Paul wrote, you would get a much better picture of the man and his divine mission. If you would open yourself up to the possibility of the miraculous, & ask God to show you, He will.

Answer 6

A) This sounds to me like you don't give much of a damn WHAT really happened. You've just figured out another dig at Christianity.

B) But, on the off chance that you truly want to know.
No, when Saul was sent to Damascus to hound out the Christians, there were still so few of them that the Sanhedrin figured one man was enough to do the job. Unless you're a Texas Ranger, it takes more than one man to quell one riot.

C) Whatever really happened to Saul on the road to Damascus, it was at least partly witnessed by those with whom he traveled. And they testified to it before the community of Christians when asked.

D) If Saul REALLY had wanted to be on what looked most like the winning side, he'd have eschewed his Judaic heritage and offered incense at a Roman temple. After all, he was already a Roman citizen. Then he would REALLY have been on the winning side.

E) Why do you give him credit for being canny enough to figure out several centuries in advance that Christianity would be the winnah, but refuse to give him credit for a true change of heart? Methinks your hypocrisy is showing.

Answer 7

God chose the Apostle Paul to take the message of grace to the gentiles. Galatians 1: 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, Galatians 1: 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: If Paul was alive today he would be telling the muslim like he told the Nation of Israel that if they didn't believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for their sins they would all go to hell. You need to grow up and believe God's Word and stop making fun of it. There is a judgment coming for those that reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

Answer 8

He was on the way to execute Christians, and Christ appeared before him. He was blinded and converted after he wasunblinded and believe in Jesus.

Answer 9

Paul met the Creator, I see that you have not.