The True Believer

In 1951, Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) published a book called The True Believer, applying social psychology to explain mass movements such as early Christianity, Communism, Fascism, Islam and Nazism etc. The book went through 23 editions! Hoffer focused on the role of self-esteem in creating fanatics who become core members in mass movements which almost always promise a better tomorrow. Peter denied Jesus three times and collapsed under the weight of guilt. Adolf Hitler, Mohammed and Stalin began as failures. In generating mass movements, they were able to enhance and compensate their lowly self-esteem. Furthermore, mass movements are interchangeable. Fanatics in one movement may switch side to the opposite camp as long as it provides a better and brighter future. From a secular point of view, Christianity is one of such mass movements which promise a bright future --- the Kingdom of God. Moreover, early Christianity was successful in attracting the poor and the marginal. Hoffer's hypothesis describes Christianity best. However, Hoffer was not a biblical scholar. We cannot expect him to be very accurate in applying his hypothesis to biblical personalities.
Paul switched from prosecuting Christians to becoming a zealous Christian missionary. If we apply Hoffer's hypothesis, Paul must have suffered from a very lowly self-esteem before his conversion. However, the reading of Philippians today shows that Paul was very proud of his earlier life.
Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee,
as to zeal a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law blameless (Philippians 3:4-6).
From his own witness, (unless Paul was telling lies) we have no reason to think that the self-esteem of Paul was low. He was a Pharisee, most of whom thought that they were better than the rest of the Jews. Therefore, we need other hypotheses to explain this reversal of fortune, from a persecutor to the one being persecuted.
In his own words, Paul had found something more valuable than the totality of his earlier life. And this something must be Jesus for whom Paul was willing to invest all his life.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8)

My dear Advocate, it was Your grace that delivers. On our own, we usually abuse the freedom You have given us and apply our talents in the wrong way. I pray that we may continue steadily to follow Your path. St. Paul, pray for us. Amen.