Paul of Tarsus wrote a lot about faith and redemption. His passionate writing never fails to move the faithful. I use to quote from his epistles when I preached to uncomprehending non-believers and I could not understand their lack of enthusiasm for Paul’s grand writing.
There is something ironic about Christians quoting Paul about belief and faith and how both are all you need to come to Jesus.
Paul was a proud Pharisaic student of Gamaliel, the famous rabbi who invoking his usual measure of compassion and common sense, saved Peter and the other ‘real’ apostles and the future of their ‘brand new’ Jewish heresy from execution and possible total oblivion (Acts 5). Paul no doubt was indoctrinated in the sacred worth of human life, but none the less, despite his association with Gamaliel set off on a bloody campaign against the heretics of Jesus.
Paul became a murderer. He makes a passing Nuremberg defence about his part in the deaths of perhaps hundreds of early followers of Jesus. His guilt must have been a heavy burden, and it might be, that in a state of denial, attempting to smother his guilt, he doubled down and sought out even more heretics to condemn, as proof of his devotion and the righteousness of his actions, to himself as much as to others. Then he went to Damascus.
Paul’s conversion wasn’t a result of his belief or faith. It was an physical mind-shattering event, in broad daylight, on the hard road to Damascus. He believed he experienced the presence, and heard the voice of Jesus Christ himself.
I suspect he suffered a severe temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), induced by his intense mental anguish brought on by guilt and fear of divine punishment. The TLE would account for his temporary blindness. The noonday Gallilean sun might also have contributed. Yet he came away from Damascus neatly forgiven and charged with yet another religious obsession to prove his passionate devotion to his god, which was now Jesus, rather than YHWH.
This was no ethereal spiritual revelation or blessing. For Paul it was a brutally perceived reality. From the evidence of his own deranged senses he had no choice but to believe, if only for the sake of his own sanity. Its ironic that Christians now quote him in the defence of the lofty merits of blind faith and supposedly logical belief. All of that is for the choir. I realise now my audience of 40 years ago with no sense of guilt or fear or need of redemptions, would have needed a Damascene event, in reality, of their own, to establish a faith and belief in a god. Just like Paul. Why is it they dont get one and are doomed to eternal punishment? Right, logical.
GrinseedAtheist
Paul’s Forged Epistles:
Seven of the 13 Epistles are supported by evidence to have originated with Paul; Romans, First and Second Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Philemon and First Thessalonians .
There are currently five Pauline Epistles which are known frauds: First and Second Timothy, Hebrews, Ephesians and Titus .though I have heard it argued Six.
The authorship of two remaining texts are still the subject of much academic debate. Modern New Testament scholars remain divided on Paul’s authorship of Second Thessalonians and Colossians . Both of these works suffer from significant challenges to their authenticity- not the least of which are highly divergent language and structure.
You’re darting and leaping all over the place
I know of Arsenal football legend, Dennis Bergkamp who won’t fly. Dennis was put off flying for life after an engine cut out during a flight to the USA 94 World Cup. I am sure Dennis, has an understanding of the laws of physics, the level of competence of the pilots, and the capabilities of the aircraft
Smh, ad hominem attack indeed.
Subtle shading hmm? I didnt say you wouldn’t. What I typed was, something in the line ignorance of the law excuses no one. If you dont believe in something/something, doesnt mean its/him/her influence won’t affect you. If you dont believe in Justin Trudeau, it doesnt mean you’re immune from, won’t benefit or be affected by his government policies
Jesus and Peter demonstrated that the law of gravity can be made useless by a superior, stronger and better law
Instead of charges, please provide proof of your accusations
What does it matter to you, if I am a Christian, huh? You dont believe the Bible to be God’s word, I doubt you believe that Jesus is God, so whats your concern
Bravo, encore, you played, the role of judge, jury and executioner, perfectly well
So you’re actually offering no evidence at all then, just a claim that theists categorise claims for evidence, and even this cannot be demonstrated?
How about you demonstrate the most compelling evidence you think indicates an extant deity as a start.
Incidentally anecdotal evidence is just subjective opinion, so it’s no more compelling for Jesus or Allah than it is for Zeus or Apollo, or alien abductions et all.
It contains errant nonsense, this is a demonstrable fact, so the idea its inspired by a an omniscient omnipotent deity is absurd, if it requires subjective interpretation then the claim of its divine origin becomes meaningless. It’s also absurd not to notice that the bible reflects the bigotry prejudice and ignorance of the people and epoch from which it was derived, exactly what I’d expect if it were entirely human origin, not one thing points to omniscience as the source.
Also the deity depicted in the bible endorses slavery, murder rape, sex trafficking female prisoners, ethnic cleansing stoning unruly children etc etc…so the idea it’s an objective moral guide is demonstrably absurd.
Absolutely no concern.
I was addressing your arguments coming into our forum.
Obviously we’re “done”. I don’t engage with
people who play mind games and don’t want to engage in honest discussions.
LOL judge, jury and executioner! You thought my post was that thorough? Flattery will get you nowhere.
I presented a short informed critical assessment, not complete of course, about Paul’s life and views, not altogether original, but honest, and your only response is to deride my humble effort? I know you were displeased because I didn’t even get a Bible quote this time.
Your preferred forum style seems to be using powerful rebuttals over minor issues, (‘G’ or ‘g’ for god? It does matter despite what you think.) employing terse derogatory responses, when you apparently lack appropriate Bible verses, and inserting quaint meaningless ‘deepity’ statements (the sun will always set in the west) to promote a false air of wisdom and a puzzling reluctance to reveal the denomination of your professed Christian faith. I cant imagine why.
Yes, I understand you are a person of profound faith in your god and Bible and that you think I am lamentably hell bound. You need to accept that I have quite a lot of personal experience and understanding about belief and religion. We are not going to shift each other’s viewpoint and the effort would be a waste of words and time.
I’m tired of you already. I can read my own Bible quotes and I can follow theological arguments in profound detail reading Aquinas or Origen et al and for quaint meaningless “deepities” I always have my desk calendar.
And smilingbirdfood- you always have me - a fellow bird lover 
And foxy feisty little pugs have always been a favourite of mine. 
(yeah I know its a panda but its a limited emoji library eh.)
Thanks for the backup Cog, I had them in mind but regardless of their authenticity I don’t accept them as documents of profound wisdom or knowledge. I really think Paul had serious personal pyschological problems. I can’t see the spiritually satisfied contented holy man in his writings. Some are just outpourings of rage and sanctimonious vanity.
And a fucking control freak. He took some hearsay teachings and formed them into an organized structure (Pharisee much???)
Not as well as I. That was my profession at the time, I know aircraft stuff in great detail. For example, the oil we used was MIL-L-23699A. And that is off the top of my head.
Another physical law at work, eh, like gravity? Mechanical failure, humans not “gifted” with foresight to “know” the consequences to everyday life and interactions with our environment. He had confidence and hoped (based on previous safe flights and a knowledge as you, David specified in your post) BUT this particular flight 
didn’t grant him a positive experience…
Driving to work, crossing the street, taking a shower… risk and reward. Humans are capable of evaluating both.
David_KillensAtheist
Awww Fuck! Now you have done it. Tin Man is looking at you with lust in his eyes and creaking joints.
Military standard synthetic oil, he has to get past the armed guards first.
… 
… Mmmmmmm… Military synthetic… Mmmmm… …
@Evathyst Re: “Dennis was put off flying for life after an engine cut out during a flight to the USA 94 World Cup. I am sure Dennis, has an understanding of the laws of physics,”
Aaaaaaand your point being…??? 
… So the poor guy had a traumatic experience in an aircraft that has since left him unwilling to fly anymore. So what? Such things happen to people all the time in varying circumstances. A person gets thrown from a horse and is terrified of horses for the rest of his/her life. Another person gets attacked by a dog and becomes a dog hater. On the other hand, some folks get thrown from several horses and simply get up and get back on the horse. Then there are those who get bit by a dog and become successful animal trainers. Every person handles trauma differently. Some get crushed by it. Others thrive and become stronger. Soooo… What, exactly, does this have to do with your god?
Please dont make me laugh.
If its absolutely no concern, then why not stay focussed on particularly discussing what faith really is on "[i]your forum " than to be poking your nose into my business. Hmm? I dont give a rat’s arse about you. I dont need to be soliciting and/or fishing for info about you guys before I can interact with you
You prematurely seem to be running out steam and/or breath
Kobe Bryant liked getting around the vast Los Angeles metropolitan area by helicopter but he and his wife “ had a deal ” that they would never ride in helicopters together. Them two, aren’t dumb nor are they dumb analogies.
Was Kobe’s, too, a mechanical failure, hmm?
23Jesus replied, “Why do you say ‘if you can’?
Anything is possible for someone who has faith!”
24At once the boy’s father shouted,
“I do have faith! Please help me to have even more .
(i.e. I believe! Help my lack of faith ) "
- Mark 9:23-24
Risk, is a function of faith. Driving to work, crossing the street, taking a shower et cetera are each and/or all stepping out in faith. If you lacked faith you won’t step out to drive to work, cross the street, take a shower et cetera. Humans, have different aptitude of evaluating faith