Paul was a convert to Christianity, via "vision". He was their first highly-successful convert to become an evangelist. The fact that he was convinced by his vision and communication with the early Christians is more than enough reason for him to decide to subject himself to various torments -- the evidence is quite clear that the early Christians considered suffering to be a good thing, a method of following in the footsteps of the man they called the Christ.
This willingness to suffer for their message is certainly not evidence that any of them were correct, not any more than it is for the early Mormons or any other religious cult, or that their narrative successfully reflects the reality of Rabbi Yeshua ben Yosef of Nazareth, when it was written down 20+ years after-the-fact. One decade is more than enough time for a legend to grow to mythical proportions.
This willingness to suffer for their message is certainly not evidence that any of them were correct, not any more than it is for the early Mormons or any other religious cult, or that their narrative successfully reflects the reality of Rabbi Yeshua ben Yosef of Nazareth, when it was written down 20+ years after-the-fact. One decade is more than enough time for a legend to grow to mythical proportions.
A Christian told me: if you were saved you cant lose your salvation. you're sealed with the Holy Ghost
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
