(September 7, 2014 at 12:43 pm)Vicki Q Wrote: It's a fascinating question, although I think you're a little quick to dismiss 'mysterious' and 'free will' as starting points.
If talking about Science as a model, there are things in Science that we don't currently know, and indeed may never, if they turn out to be too complex to understand. This doesn't mean that we should reject Science in totality. We just try to find out what we don't know, but accept our current limitations of knowledge. That's how I see my Christianity. It's uncertain, short on knowledge, constantly in need of revision and at least partly wrong. But I think bits of it are probably right, and so it makes sense to keep going.
Clearly God could make His presence clear beyond doubt. And have a legion of angels briefed to zap our backsides if we so much as think of taking a pencil home from work. But I'm not sure that's the best thing.
Would anyone actually want to be married to a Stepford Wife/Husband programmed to 'love' us? It's the humanity, with all its flaws and the distinct possibility of “No” that makes a relationship meaningful. 'Failure plus trying to do better' > 'Programmed obedience' possibly in God's eyes, and I think I begin to get that.
The problem with your reasoning is the concept of Hell. The obedience may not be programmed, but it is certainly compulsory, on the pain of eternal torment if it is not forthcoming in the form of belief and compliance.
In short, the fact that a "no" answer brings on eternal torture is exactly what makes a "yes" meaningless. This is love commanded under duress. There is no free-will when one's soul is held for ransom, just as an armed robbery is not a "donation."
