In Times of Tragedy, Americans Turn to St. Paul for Answers

RNS’ Daniel Burke explores the role of Paul in Christian responses to tragic events-and some changing views on Paul himself-in this week’s full text article, linked above.

Quote:

“We turn to Job for the questions, we turn to Paul for the answers,” said the Rev. Richard Cizik, the Washington director for the National Association of Evangelicals.

and

It might surprise some, however, to see Paul cast in the role of consoler. For many years, he was seen as a theological hardliner who was thought to condone anti-Semitism and misogyny.

Thomas Jefferson called Paul “the first corrupter of the doctrines of Jesus.” German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said he had “a genius for hatred,” and playwright George Bernard Shaw said “it would have been better for the world if Paul had never been born.”