Did Jesus rob Saul of his 'Free-Will?'?

Question

Saul was happily minding his own business persecuting christians when Jesus smacked him in the head with a personal appearance to lay a guilt trip on him. If god allows us free-will, is this the version of free-will that he gave Saul?

No, I don't believe in Jesus, but I do like to play the devil's advocate. I can talk religion all day, just like people can talk about Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. That doesn't mean I BELIEVE this stuff.

Ellesar, didn't Paul end up in jail, and then killed? Doesn't sound like a 'better life' to me.

ramjet, Jesus was a Jew. An Orthodox Jew. When he showed up saying "Why are you persecuting me?" he wasn't giving Saul congrats on a job well done...

Juju, been there, done that. Why do you think I asked the question?

Gorgeous, another ten point answer from my favorite theist. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

Answer 1

So the story goes. I don't believe it for a second.

Paul was supposedly born and raised in the city of Tarsus, a region in SE Asia-Minor (now called Turkey) where Mithras was well known. Biblical scholars are now saying that Paul, the alleged author of 13 out of the 27 (maybe more) books of the New Testament, may have been influenced in his writings by this strong religion of Mithraism. We can see a profound kinship between Mithraism and Christianity.



In-as-much as Mithraism was so popular in Rome, it is no wonder why the pagan Emperor Constantine, who believed in the sun god, Mithras, designated a certain day of the week to him, Sunday, which means, “the day of the sun.”



The original "Christian" faith became a mix of pagan, Mithramic, Jeudeo/Christian teaching. This lead to the confusing mix of theology that we have today within the "Christian" community. This apostacy from the original simple and plain teachings of Christ was accelerated by the persecutions and killings of any who tried to support the "old" ways. Maybe this solves the mystery of the “ungodly” marriage between Mithraism and the cult of Jesus. As it turns out, it was all for political convenience! But, Christians think they are better than that today. In short: The "Christianity" they have today has almost no relationship, in doctrine or in way of life, to the "the original teachings of Jesus."

In my mind, there are two Jesus' teachings. Jesus the Jew and Jesus the Gentile, which by the way is really Paul's Jesus. And guess which one Christians follow? The ex-pagan Constantine liked Paul's Jesus over Jesus the Jew. Jesus and all the others upon whom this character is predicated are personifications of the sun, and the Gospel fable is merely a rehash of a mythological formula revolving around the movements of the sun through the heavens.

Answer 2

I see it a bit different.
Saul may have been "minding his own business persecuting Christians" when Jesus showed up. But Jesus didn't lay a guilt trip on him, he told him the truth about himself. Who among us can ignore or turn away from the absolute truth?

Saul still had the choice not to accept the truth, didn't he?


blessings :)

edit: per your additional comment, I don't understand where your idea that I am saying Jesus was congratulating Saul comes from? Saul was persecuting the followers of Christ - Jesus chose to tell Saul "why are you persecuting me? here is the truth of my being, now you have a choice.... what do you choose?"

Answer 3

for all those who read this, pay close attention...you have read some of my answers about understanding GOD's truth thru spiritual understanding versus literal and no spirit. and by the way sir, this is no negative reflection on you. I have heard notable preachers who sounded like they were full of the spirit but were empty vessels. so this isn't to you. and you might agree since you are an aetheist. This point of view is not based on the BIBLE, and is specifically targeted to make someone look bad. The true understanding of this story goes back to Stephen's testimony. Saul heard it and was convicted, yet stubborn about surrendering his hard heart. I mean after all he was as grounded as any evangelical is today. full of knowledge scripture and education. But why did he resist,? well if I were to ask today's christian why they worship on a pagan holiday, which is a good question for you to ask, then they, after hearing the truth would feel like Saul. and hopefully when they were shown the truth would change their names too.

Answer 4

Nope. Saul still had to choose to do the will of God. He was just a little more forceful in getting Saul's attention than others.

Answer 5

He still had free will, in fact, Saul was a very strong-willed man. It's just that when you really meet Jesus on a personal level.....you want Him.

Answer 6

Saul wanted to serve God and he thought that he was. Jesus just made it clear to him that he was going about it the wrong way.

Answer 7

I think Saul/Paul came across some great mushrooms on the way to Damascus.

Answer 8

Jesus genuinely did not rob human beings he got here to save them and heal them. perchance your spouse is taking under consideration Judas Iscariot who grow to be the disciple who appeared after the money for the disciples and Jesus. He confirmed by his moves that he grow to be a lot extra in touch contained in the money than salvation. Judas betrayed Jesus for funds and at the same time as he realised what a dreadful component he had carried out went and hanged himself. Jesus grow to be so completely beneficiant that he gave his existence that genuine believers may be saved.

Answer 9

Saul was obedient to a savior in love--read his epistles--his free will kept him in the faith as a great Christian.

Answer 10

But look at how much better Paul's life became. God knows best.