You’re just repeating the exact same things I’ve already gone over. You want to argue the use of English words derived from Latin origins based on Hebrew words. Man (adam) was formed from the dust of the earth (adamah) and made in the image and likeness (adameh) of God. When God breathed the breath (neshamah) man became a living soul (nephesh). Adamah and adameh are the same word with a different pronunciation of the ה. This implies that that physical form of man (adamah) is compromised of earthly elements, and spiritual man was made in his likeness (adameh).
Oh so you want to argue it's just completely semantics.
That's cool, too. It makes it way easier. If the spiritual likeness is of the god, is he capable of evil? Because men "sin" as I recall. And if the god is evil, why should I worship him? And if we are indeed in the spiritual likeness of god, why do we need the 10 commandments to follow? We should already be in his "spiritual likeness".
You keep trying to understand to totality of God by looking at his creation. What can you tell me about Henry Ford by looking at an F150? How would you describe the color blue to a blind man? You’re spiritually blind, asking questions, but also have your fingers in your ears because you’ve decided that your own answers are good enough.
He’s capable of justice. Justice is not evil. We have free will. We can choose to follow his ways or choose to follow men’s ways. One leads to destruction and one leads to eternal life. Death was introduced into the world because of sin. Sin requires a redemption; redemption is freely given to those who baptize and choose to live the way the creator intended for us to live. The commandments are lessons in how we learn to truly love each other, and love our creator.
How rewarding would it be if you forced your wife to say “I love you” everyday vs her choosing to do so of her own free will? Would you believe her if it was forced? God wants his creation to love him and his ways, but he doesn’t force anyone. He is long suffering and patient beyond human comprehension. Those that choose to follow him will get the promise at the end; and those that choose not to will die and cease to exist. That’s justice, not evil.
I like your definition of the god, I truly do and I agree to some parts, albeit you sound a bit naive with your belief in the ultimate justice.
None of what you said refers to the Bible, which presupposes that we take on his "spiritual likeness". So if we are given a free will, what exactly is taken after the god? You have kept on pressing this human's similarity with the god, but you're painting a very vague picture. Instead of informing me and answering my questions, you have resorted to shaming me with such phrases as this.
You’re spiritually blind, asking questions, but also have your fingers in your ears because you’ve decided that your own answers are good enough.
I have never put you down for your belief in your version of the god, and I have merely inquired into understanding the god through your words. Your tactic of trying to make me sound foolish won't work on me because I have played the part of the fool to begin with. I have assumed nothing from the beginning, yet you have resorted to so many tactics to divert the direct questions by saying it's semantics or that I'm spiritually blind. If anything, the more I inquire into you, I want to put myself further away from being affiliated with any faith of yours.
I'll ask again for one last time. And I'll give you a chance to answer it however you like and even disregarding the semantics. How are we taken after the god of yours?
Also, here is an interesting quote of yours from earlier.
An image and likeness to God is someone who keeps his commandments and doesn’t allow the desires of the flesh to control the man. The body is subservient to the spirit.
Doesn't this directly violate your "free will" argument? You stated that
we were formed in his image and likeness.
If I don't follow the commandments, then I must not be made in his image. Then who am I taken after?
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