The term “Damascus road conversion” refers to a sudden and profound change in a person’s beliefs or opinions, often caused by a single event. It is derived from the story of Paul in the New Testament, but can be applied to non-religious situations as well. The change is expected to be significant and lasting, not trivial.
Derived from the biblical story of Paul, the term “conversion on the Damascus road” is commonly used to refer to a sharp about-face on a serious issue of religion, politics or philosophy. In this type of change, a single dramatic event causes a person to align with something they were previously against or support a position they previously opposed. For example, a person might undergo a Damascus street conversion if they were protesting an attempt to convert a parking lot into a neighborhood park but, after hearing a city council meeting where the plan was discussed, became a spokesperson of the park project.
Paul’s story
The term “Damascus road conversion” comes from the story of Paul, who was known as Saul when he was a Jewish Pharisee. He was intent on vigorously persecuting the early Christians, but later became one of Christianity’s most important apostles. Saul had persecuted Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem and made it difficult for them to worship there.
According to the New Testament book Acts of the Apostles, Saul was traveling on the road to the city of Damascus, where he intended to imprison more Christians. Then he saw a bright light and heard Jesus’ voice. Jesus brought Saul’s attention to the persecution he had caused and told Saul that later he would be told what Jesus wanted him to do, and Saul went blind. Saul continued on to Damascus, where he regained his sight and began preaching about Christ. He also got a new name, Paul, to indicate his transformation of him.
A sudden change
Common parlance has adopted this story to allude to a person’s fundamental outlook on life that changes in a single moment. Many significant changes in beliefs or opinions occur gradually. For example, a person might vehemently support a political party before becoming dissatisfied with certain positions taken by that party. If the person’s dissatisfaction grows or extends to other positions taken by the party, he may stop supporting that party and even switch to another political party. There could be a single moment or event, however, that would cause a person to immediately change his allegiance without any prior dissatisfaction, and that kind of change could be termed a Damascus road conversion.
It’s not a trivial change
This term is sometimes loosely used to refer to an insignificant change. For example, it would not be considered an appropriate use of the term to refer to a change in a person’s opinion of a popular artist’s musical talents as a Damascus street conversion. This type of change is typically expected to be dramatic, profound, and lasting, though not necessarily religious. A major career change, seeking citizenship of another country, or changing positions on political issues would be considered better examples.
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