[shibumi]

"That's not the gospel. I wrote "No one, out of a clear blue has the whole gospel downloaded Paul style in an instant."

Saul of Tarsus was a scholar. He knew the Scriptures, and the prophecies they contained. He also knew full well who Jesus was, who He had claimed to be, and the claims made about Him. He did not have to have any factual information about what the Gospel was, who it was about or from whence it came "downloaded" to him. That information was already there.

What came to him in an instant was the realization of the Truth of what he had heard.

Like Saul, I had lots of facts, the result of close to twenty years of religious education (some from the Roman Catholic Church and some from independent study.) I am not comparing the depth of my scriptural knowledge to his, but like him, there was already a foundation of factual information.

What happened? The reality and implications of the facts I knew (but viewed skeptically) became blindingly clear. That is the Gospel.

Why anger and despair? Because if any man (including you) is honest with himself, has clear introspection and a realistic view of the world (without Christ) he knows there is nothing but "...fear in a handful of dust..."(Eliot)

We all start out riding "high horses" just as Paul was riding a physical one. Yours appears to be a hyperbole ad absurdum of a pink unicorn.

I trust the Lord will not bruise you too badly when He knocks you off it. (And, whether you believe it or not, I mean that in the most loving way possible.)

[kosta50]

He did not have to have any factual information about what the Gospel was, who it was about or from whence it came "downloaded" to him. That information was already there.

That's not what he says. He said he heard the Gospel from no man.

For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal 1:11-12]

So much for that theory...

What happened? The reality and implications of the facts I knew (but viewed skeptically) became blindingly clear. That is the Gospel.

That tells me absolutely nothing, shibumi. Example?

Why anger and despair? Because if any man (including you) is honest with himself, has clear introspection and a realistic view of the world (without Christ) he knows there is nothing but "...fear in a handful of dust..."(Eliot)

Just the way the world is. Taoist thinkers found peace in that without trying to figure out why the world is the way it is.

We all start out riding "high horses" just as Paul was riding a physical one. Yours appears to be a hyperbole ad absurdum of a pink unicorn. /I>

Pink unicorns or talking donkeys...no difference.