road to Damascus


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road to Damascus

A turning point; a life-changing experience. Refers to the Biblical story of Saul, who converts to Christianity (and becomes known as Paul) after he has a vision of Jesus while on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians. That moment was my road to Damascus. Everything changed after that.
See also: road

road to Damascus

A sudden, radical change in attitude, perspective, or belief. The term refers to the biblical story of Paul, who converted from Judaism to Christianity while traveling the road to Damascus (Book of Acts, chapter 9). It has long been used figuratively, sometimes put as a road to Damascus moment. For example, “Where gun rights are concerned, a ‘Road to Damascus moment’ occurs when a formerly anti-gun or gun-shy person decides to become a gun owner” (John Pierce, Minneapolis Examiner, August 7, 2009).
See also: road
References in periodicals archive ?
In Abu Dhabi, the Ambassador expelled, and the road to Damascus was going to be arduous.
Old City folks still back Al Assad
Perhaps, on the road to Damascus, Rudd stumbled over Gaza.
Rudd, Bonhoeffer and the War on Gaza
Whatever happened to Paul on the road to Damascus, Christians reverence the place now known as the Chapel of Ananias.
Opinion: The example of Faith in Damascus
June Bartlett's solo exhibition On the Road to Damascus runs at The Mathaf Gallery, 24 Motcombe Street, London SW1X 8JU (www.
On the road to Damascus
Paul initially persecuted Christians after being raised as a Jew in Tarsus, but he underwent a conversion to Christianity after a vision on the road to Damascus.
Turkey says okay to Christian worship in birthplace of St. Paul
Paul experienced God in his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, in his mystical experiences and in his understanding of the Incarnation and redemption.
Easter in memorable DVDs
Although a slew of Lebanese political leaders have been travelling the road to Damascus since the neighbours agreed in August to establish diplomatic relations, Aoun's trip is different because he holds no official position.
ARAB AFFAIRS - Dec 3 - Lebanese Christian Leader Courts Assad
With bewildering succession, he first pledges no tax cuts under the next Tory administration, then on the road to Damascus he is converted and, once again, espousing Thatcherite principles, the electorate is promised a raft of cuts.
Letter: Monopoly money
The blast, in 200 kilos of explosives, occurred on the road to Damascus near a turn to the shrine of a female Shi'ite saint Sayidat Zainab and near a sensitive security post.
UN On Syrian Troop Build-Up On Lebanese Border
There has been no claim of responsibility for the car bomb attack near a Shia shrine and a security checkpoint in the neighbourhood of Sayeda Zeinab on a road to Damascus airport.
UN condemns deadly Syria attack
Some officers at the Central Intelligence Agency are beginning to wonder if Director Michael Hayden has had a Saul on the road to Damascus experience, possibly smitten by the voice of Dick Cheney while traversing the streets of McLean in his armored limousine.
Some officers at the Central Intelligence Agency are beginning to wonder if Director Michael Hayden has had a Saul on the road to Damascus experience
Paul got knocked off his mule by a bolt of lightning on the road to Damascus.
FDA Commissioner asks congress to increase funding
Saul is sure of his claim on truth as he proceeds up the road to Damascus.
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany: February 4, 2007
Lens on Syria: The Road to Damascus kicks off on Sept.
SCREEN BRIEFLY
I had great ambivalence on the road to Damascus in 2002.
Three views on Iraq, three years later: in May 2003 George W. Bush declared "mission accomplished" in Iraq. A trio of analysts debates the current state of the region
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