Journalist’s biography of St. Paul unbalanced

Award-winning British broadcast journalist Edward Stourton brings the tools of his trade to an attempt to uncover the real St. Paul in Paul of Tarsus: A Visionary Life. This historical figure was, and remains today, a source of division and influence worldwide.

An authentic Catholic theology attempts to make sense of the complexities of biblical texts and the situation and culture in which they were written. Stourton has not written a theology book, but he does take the time to walk where the apostle walked and to interview the people who might offer insight into Paul's world. He speaks with politicians, clergy, authors and caretakers of "sacred spaces" associated with the life of St. Paul. Stourton invites the reader to follow him as he examines a few of St. Paul's teachings, early influences, conversion, Judaism, missionary activity and impact in the world today.

Stourton poses the bigger question – "What does Paul mean?" – as the purpose of his book. The book's scope is not nearly long enough to delve into the complexities of Paul's theology and to answer this question. Unfortunately, someone who is not familiar at all with St. Paul or the gospels could walk away from this book thinking that St. Paul is anything but a visionary, that he is an anti-Semitic misogynist, possibly gay, who single-handedly turned Jesus into God.

In addition, Stourton rarely touches on the person of Jesus, who so influenced this "apostle to the gentiles." This gives the novice reader an unbalanced perception of Paul. The Christian belief in the Holy Spirit, who is a reality in the life, missionary activity and writing of St. Paul, is mentioned only once and is treated more as a dubious concoction by New Testament writer St. Luke than as an authentic Christian experience.

Stourton does a good job in citing many biblical references and spends ample time dealing with the inconsistencies in the conversion accounts in the Acts of the Apostles and Paul's own handwritten version.

Stourton's skepticism of the biblical text that has been handed down to us and his political beliefs cloud his writing throughout the book. I could have done without his cynical references to the "George Bush White House" as an illustration of "spin" that Stourton sees in St. Paul. That analogy reveals more about Stourton's vision of the world than of St. Paul's.

When Stourton describes his visit to Damascus, he does a wonderful job of allowing the reader to walk with him and get a glimpse of what it is like to venture there today. Elsewhere in the book he touches on the hot buttons of homosexuality, anti-Semitism and St. Paul's view of Jewish law. However, Stourton reveals no new insights and breaks no new ground.

- - -

Wright teaches at Assumption College for Sisters in Medham, N.J., and Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains, N.J., and is the author of Silent Witnesses in the Gospels (Charis/Servant Publishing).

Comments that include profanity, personal attacks, antisocial behavior such as "spamming" and "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will not be posted on Catholic Online. Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of service. While Catholic Online invites robust discussion, we maintain the right to not print material that is patently false in its claims concerning the teaching of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, overtly anti-Catholic or which, in the opinion of the moderator, are intended to mislead readers as to what the Catholic Church teaches. Comments DO NOT necessarily reflect the opinion or views of Catholic Online.

| International News