The Cult of Paul

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Conclusion: Returning to The Way of Christ … (bringing Jesus' original New Beginning to its rightful End) For starters, it is important for the reader to understand that this treatise is not meant to be a criticism of Paul himself. Yes, his letters clearly show him to be a man deluded by an incredibly potent psychological elixir – namely, being born into a life of unfair privilege while simultaneously harboring a disturbingly low level of self-esteem. This combination tempted him to commit atrocious acts of violent injustice upon the innocent and create a life which engendered such intense levels of internal shame and guilt that he ultimately developed a unique theology to compensate for the same – a theology that begins in an unwashable “original sin” and ends in a faith-activated & grace-granted spiritual redemption that was completely unearned by the “saved” and fully unjust towards the “unworthy.” And yet despite the patent dysfunction with which he operated and the blatant injustices his religion perpetrated (and still perpetrates to this day), it bears noting that I have immense respect for the sincerity of Paul's zeal and the passion with which he enlivened the same, as well as an enormous compassion for how obviously lost he felt during his obviously tortured life … Secondly, it is just as important to note that this tome is not meant to be a denouncement of Christianity, the modern-day religion founded upon and sustained by the teachings Paul. Yes, it is true that Paulinist dogma does encourage its Christian adherents to bow down to what amounts to nothing less than a celestial dictatorship 72 (no matter how “loving” or “kind” its tyrant might well be) and to worship Jesus himself in a manner that is nothing short of idolatry. 73 And yet that having been said, all those who have chosen to be “humble as a toddler” (see Matthew 18:3-4) must admit that such conservative believers might very well be correct in their assessment of the Divine. 74 72 Though some Christians like to claim that the condemned have every opportunity to bow down to Jesus before their bodily death – and thus in effect choose their own damnation when they don't, this argument borders on the ludicrous. Yes, it is true that anyone staunchly adhering to The Way of Christ (e.g. the true “saints” of all the world's religions – including Christianity) would indeed choose Hell over Heaven – if for no other reason than they, as pure adherents of Jesus' selfless Way, would want nothing more on their deathbed than to go to Hell and do whatever they could to ease the suffering there – no other humans (other than clinically diagnosed sadomasochists, of course) would do so. Indeed, almost every single human being longs to reside in Heaven after he or she dies, and yet according to Paul's “gospel” (again, see Romans 10:9-10 & 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) almost all of them will be denied that halcyon reward, and this simply because they didn't “come to Christ” in an appropriate fashion &/or at the appropriate time. Is this benevolence? Is this anything even faintly resembling the “perfect Love” of which Jesus spoke in the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5)? Is this punishment even remotely just? Of course not! And I would humbly offer that any human being at all in tune with his or her conscience (the “Advocate within” a la John 14:20-26) knows this to be true. 73 Again, this is a contention vehemently affirmed by Jesus himself throughout the Gospels (see Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19, John 5:41, John 7:16, John 8:50-54, John 12:44, & John 14:28 et al). 74 Of course, if these “evangelical fundamentalists” are indeed correct, then their choice to abide in such a doctrine and worship such a God ironically precludes them from entering the “Kingdom of Heaven” that Jesus himself announces in the Gospels. Simply stated, as long as one is primarily concerned about his or her own salvation in the hereafter (instead of reaching out selflessly to Care for others come what may) and as long as one arrogantly believes that he or she has exclusive access to God's Will &/or the “correct” interpretation of Scripture, then – even though entrance into Paul's believed-in postmortem Paradise might indeed be granted him or her -- there will be no entrance into the “Kingdom of Heaven” that Jesus came to offer his true followers; a state of perfect bliss that exists in every present moment of this current lifetime (see Matthew 10:7 & Luke 17:20-21 et al); a Kingdom that can only be accessed by those who set aside their selfish arrogance (see Matthew 18:3-4 & Matthew 23:12) in favor of humbly & courageously walking The Way of selfless LOVE – by those who choose to make their lives about caring for and serving others instead of themselves (see John 13:15-17, John 14:15, & John 15:12 et al); especially the downtrodden in their communities (a la Matthew 25:35-40) &/or the enemies in their midst (a la Matthew 5:44-48 & Luke 10:29-37). 71
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The Cult of Paul examining the cont
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“For the time is coming when peop
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“I have set you an example, that
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Forward … the WHY of it all While
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And yet as far as this particular t
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An introductory look at Paul of Tar
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“Now as Saul was going along and
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A few of the Bible's“smaller hint
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*Paul downplays the innate holiness
Page 19 and 20: "Paul avoids quoting the teaching o
Page 21 and 22: As the previous pages have shown, t
Page 23 and 24: In marked contrast, Jesus is seen t
Page 25 and 26: Contrast #04: their affiliations wi
Page 27 and 28: Contrast #07: how they dealt with t
Page 29 and 30: Jesus & Paul: a look at their perso
Page 31 and 32: Contrast #12: Paul's condemnation &
Page 33 and 34: In quite marked contrast, Jesus Chr
Page 35 and 36: And finally, where Paul is frequent
Page 37 and 38: *Paul lied to King Agrippa about hi
Page 39 and 40: Jesus & Paul: a look at their preac
Page 41 and 42: Jesus Christ, on the other hand, ma
Page 43 and 44: In marked contrast, while it is tru
Page 45 and 46: *Paul was inconsistent in his teach
Page 47 and 48: *Just as revealing, every single on
Page 49 and 50: Jesus & Paul: their conflicting the
Page 51 and 52: Conflict #03: Paul guided by conven
Page 53 and 54: In truth, in the Gospel of Matthew
Page 55 and 56: Conflict #05: Paul believing God to
Page 57 and 58: And yet the nature of God is not th
Page 59 and 60: Conflict #06: Paul believing God to
Page 61 and 62: Conflict #08: Paul equating the “
Page 63 and 64: Finally, and in full harmony with t
Page 65 and 66: Even the parable of The Sower in th
Page 67 and 68: Paul: an apostle of delightful iron
Page 69: “There is, on the one hand, the a
Page 73 and 74: As such, now that the dichotomy bet
Page 75 and 76: “The body that is sown is perisha
Page 77: “I praise You, Father, Lord of he
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The Cult of Paul

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