Mmm... we'll never know the truth, but you have to look at what you know about Paul and leave out what religion he stands for, because that is clouding your vision. Here's a mental exercise: pretend we're talking about some guy in late 1960's Florida who used to be against Communism, and was outspoken about it, maybe a kid from a rich family whose interests would naturally be against it.
Then he is visited by the ghost of Che Guevara, and becomes an ardent convert. Now he's setting up CPUSA chapters in Miami, printing leaflets, the FBI is monitoring him but he's getting local fame amongst the Cuban-American kids who agree with him... maybe making connections in Cuba and slowly becoming rather famous in that little circle...
If you heard of a guy like this, you'd roll your eyes and think "mm hmm." You'd know that despite the fact that he believes in what he's doing, there's an ardent desire there for recognition and the feeling of efficacy, the feeling that you are important, you are leading the way, you are the change! You were chosen! You are a hero of the Revolution!
It's a personality type. Idealistic, ego-centric, a little unstable... you'd recognize it if it weren't within a framework you've taught yourself to accept.
“Mmm... we’ll never know the truth, but you have to look at what you know about Paul and leave out what religion he stands for, because that is clouding your vision.”
Your prejudice against religion apparently is clouding YOUR vision. My vision isn’t clouded at all. I am merely taking the man at his word until evidence to the contrary is presented. You have failed to present ANY evidence whatsoever. Not a single scrap of evidence. Nothing. You, however, apparently are assuming you know why he did everything he did with not a single scrap of evidence to back it up.
“Here’s a mental exercise:”
No “mental exercise” is needed when you have the actual writings by and about St. Paul. You have NO EVIDENCE. Your “mental exercises” are not evidence. They are merely an aid to bolster your sad prejudice.