"If I see my son pursue a course I KNOW, because of my experience, will lead him to doom, I will stop him because I love him. You (and Tertullian) seem to be saying that God either can't or won't do that for us. How is this love when He has a million times more authority over us as I have over my own son?"
It isn't "can't", its "won't". We have free will as part of our created essencesn because God wanted it that way. He is constantly showering his uncreated energies on us and has restored our original pre-Fall potential through the Incarnation. In short, he has endowed us with everything we need to become like Christ. Its up to us to accept what has been and is given to us. The parent concept works only so far and at some point anthropomorphism becomes a hinderance to a recognition of the complete ineffability and transcendence of God.
"Your ways are not My Ways, neither are your thoughts My Thoughts
As high as the Heaven is above the earth, even so high are
My Ways above yours." Isaiah 55:8-9
"OK, so then for the "regular" saved person theosis is achieved after physical death."
Perhaps better said it occurs after death because the soul can do nothing for itself after death.
"I'm sorry if I am asking you to repeat yourself, but after death, what seals the deal?"
God's mercy. We are told that at the Final Judgment we are judged not by good or evil deeds but rather by how much we have become like Christ (not, I suppose, if we have reached complete theosis, at least I hope not).
It isn't "can't", its "won't". We have free will as part of our created essencesn because God wanted it that way. ... Its up to us to accept what has been and is given to us. The parent concept works only so far and at some point anthropomorphism becomes a hinderance to a recognition of the complete ineffability and transcendence of God.
Then is "anthropomorphism " the main argument you would use to answer the question: "How could God love all and let so many slip through His fingers when He has all power and authority to prevent it"? I agree that the human parent-child relationship isn't perfect, but the Bible seems to use it in a lot of places as close enough. :)
FK: "OK, so then for the "regular" saved person theosis is achieved after physical death."
Perhaps better said it occurs after death because the soul can do nothing for itself after death.
But I thought that petitioning the departed to pray on our behalf was an accepted practice. Can they not pray for themselves as we can pray for ourselves?
FK: "I'm sorry if I am asking you to repeat yourself, but after death, what seals the deal?"
God's mercy. We are told that at the Final Judgment we are judged not by good or evil deeds but rather by how much we have become like Christ (not, I suppose, if we have reached complete theosis, at least I hope not).
OK, would it then be fair to say that your closest equivalent to what I call sanctification is what is the most important thing to you? I'm sorry because I'm sure I am confusing Catholic with Orthodox beliefs, even though they are so close. Honestly, before this thread my knowledge of Eastern Orthodox was zero, so I really appreciate the conversations with you and Kosta. Sorry if I am mixing ideas when I shouldn't. :)