"God can't" is an oxymoron. The only divine reason is he won't.
Okay, agreed. He doesn't because in order to do it, we would be changed so that we could understand Him. We were created this way. To give us divine understanding would be eating further of the fruit of the tree, I suppose.
1. Beats me. 2. Beats me, unless you have Jesus as the anti Adam, reversing the course, as it were.
If they have free will in heaven they can repeat the Fall and heaven will not last forever. If they don't they are and will be robots forever.
More either/or? You have become very black and white, my friend. There are other possibilities.
Notice how Paul calls for us to imitate Christ, not be an image of Him. Imitation is an indication of Christ-like, image may not be. Imitation of Christ is being Chirst-like, reacquiring the likeness of God. The image is an icon, so that when we look at man we recognize God, and the quality of man is the likeness of God (just, free, compassionate, etc.). So, man not only appears like God but is like God in how he acts (accoridng to his created purpose).
I imitate Christ, albeit rather poorly. Many people would not see the likeness of God within me. The image is not an icon, by my understanding. Satan, for instance, is the most beautiful of Creation, yet is the father of lies. Lies are deceit; they present an image to the viewer. The imitation that I speak of is the how, the doing, the actions. The image I speak of is the visual, the emotional, the convincing. A politician, in fact. An individual presenting himself as God.
That is why I like the English "imitation", rather than the English "image". I think that it is far closer to the commands of Jesus.
You don't know why you believe?
Let's just say that I really doubt that I could convince you of why I believe.
But it's your decision and you judge it "true." What proof, if any do you have that your faith is true? Or do you just blindly believe whatever, for no reason whatsoever?
Either/or? Black and white? I am not given to visions along the road to Damascus or hands in the open wounds. I have not the proof that you would like. Neither do I blindly believe. I am convinced, shall we say?
So, God of love prefers ignorance?
We were created this way. To give us divine understanding would be eating further of the fruit of the tree, I suppose
But why not make man worthy of such knowledge if man is worthy of being an image and likeness of God? Do you want children who just obey you but can never understand you? Those are not children but pets, Mark!
You have become very black and white, my friend. There are other possibilities.
Such as? A little free will and a lot of blind obedience? Or mostly robots, but occasionally free-willed? Or, half and half, depending on which day of the week it is...?
I imitate Christ, albeit rather poorly. Many people would not see the likeness of God within me.
but that's not your created purpose, Mark. Man was created to be an image and likeness of God and then, somehow, things just happened...the Fall; and, btw, you never answered that question for me: was it ordained or did God just not see it coming?
Let's just say that I really doubt that I could convince you of why I believe
I didn't ask you to convince me, Mark; just why you believe. :)
I am not given to visions along the road to Damascus or hands in the open wounds. I have not the proof that you would like. Neither do I blindly believe. I am convinced, shall we say?
That is obvious, but you must know that what the Church teaches is rather fantastic and doesn't reflect the real world. So, what gives?