baqar

That is fine.
Just because we do not know the Imam's reason for naming his son Abu Bakr does not mean we can assume that he named him after the first caliph.
All we can say is that we do not know but to make unfounded assumptions is not quite right either.
  

Well nigh impossible!
The caliphs were men whose direct actions had caused unlimited grief to his wife.
To the extent that she never spoke to them for the rest of her short life and frequently complained about them.
The first caliph invented a hadith - I am using the word "invented" because the hadith cannot possibly be true.
And it cannot possibly be true because the Prophet was not so irresponsible that he would tell Abu Bakr something that relates to his daughter, but he wouldn't tell her. 
That is simply impossible - simply out of the question.
According to all historians, both Sunni and Shia, she was terribly aggrieved by their behaviour.
Also, apart from some scattered hadiths in Sunni books, there is no real evidence that Maula Ali (عليه السلام) had any real affection for them.
Sure, he helped them as a matter of duty, but not because of affection.  

I find it very difficult  to understand how Sunnis admire men who rejected the arguments of Lady Fatima (sa) when she put forward her claim to Fidak.
Abu Bakr quoted a hadith that says that Prophets leave nothing for their families and Lady Fatima (sa) produced evidence of Fidak having been given to her by her father. 
It is hard to believe that the Prophet would not have told his daughter whatever he told Abu Bakr.
So there are only two possibilities.
Either Abu Bakr invented that hadith  OR  the Prophet (sa) was so naive that he did not tell his daughter about it.
Personally, I doubt very much that he would tell Abu Bakr something that concerns his family and not tell his family about it.
And if that is so, Abu Bakr definitely invented that hadith.
 
 

Well brother, as I said before, Sheikhs are also all types.
And even the highest scholars sometimes differ in their views.
As for Bilal, my understanding is that he had a very high place in the eyes of the Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)).
And in the eyes of the Prophet's family as well.
Some of the Companions were jealous of the high opinion the Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) had of him and they wanted Bilal out.
But the Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) overruled them. 
That again shows that the Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) truly liked him.  

To wit:
"Gov't is created gooder than baby GeeZeus" --recited by tree huggers, socialists, hysterics, liberals and other despicables.

That book by Lesley Hazleton is excellent.
Super - I love it.
You might also like to try "The Heirs of Muhammad" by Barnaby Rogerson.  

There are wrong assumptions and premises in your questions.
(1) Why He did not test those individuals prior to making them Imams and Prophets?
Answer: He didn't need to. He knows exactly all about everyone's abilities and character.
(2) Why He did not make me an Imam,. What was my fault?
Answer: Because He knew from His unique knowledge that you are not worth it.
(3) Why should we call any Prophet or Imam great because God made him intrinsically great unlike us?
Answer: God did not make anyone intrinsically good or great.
He gave everyone the facility of choice and we chose not to do the things that exceptional people, like Prophets and Imams, do. 
(4) Why should we call any Prophet or Imam great because God made him intrinsically great unlike us?
Answer: Like everyone else, they were given the choice to do as they liked and they chose to do God's Will.
################################################################################
ALL your questions miss the point that we all have CHOICE.
No one is created without CHOICE.
And different people make different choices.
If God makes someone a Prophet, it is because He knows what choices that person would make.

Every religion has parts that are man-made.
The Islam of today also has parts that are man-made.
But the original Islam given to us by our Holy Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) and our Imam (عليه السلام) was not man-made.

Many religions are.
And even for those that are not, some changes by followers could alter its essential nature into a man made entity.

There are wrong assumptions and premises in your questions.
(1) Why He did not test those individuals prior to making them Imams and Prophets?
Answer: He didn't need to. He knows exactly all about everyone's abilities and character.
(2) Why He did not make me an Imam,. What was my fault?
Answer: Because He knew from His unique knowledge that you are not worth it.
(3) Why should we call any Prophet or Imam great because God made him intrinsically great unlike us?
Answer: God did not make anyone intrinsically good or great.
He gave everyone the facility of choice and we chose not to do the things that exceptional people, like Prophets and Imams, do. 
(4) Why should we call any Prophet or Imam great because God made him intrinsically great unlike us?
Answer: Like everyone else, they were given the choice to do as they liked and they chose to do God's Will.
################################################################################
ALL your questions miss the point that we all have CHOICE.
No one is created without CHOICE.
And different people make different choices.
If God makes someone a Prophet, it is because He knows what choices that person would make.

Salams all
I believe a knowledge of this topic will be useful to all ShiaChat members.
Will it be possible for other sisters and brothers to post hadiths for the Ahlul Bayt in Sunni books?
Thanks and Was Salam

Narrated 'Ali:
that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "I am the house of wisdom, and 'Ali is its door."   https://sunnah.com/urn/636030    Narrated Hubshi bin Junadah: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "'Ali is from me and I am from 'Ali. And none should represent me except myself or 'Ali." https://sunnah.com/urn/635990   Narrated Abu Sarihah, or Zaid bin Arqam - Shu'bah had doubt: from the Prophet (ﷺ): "For whomever I am his Mawla then 'Ali is his Mawla."   https://sunnah.com/urn/635920   Ibn Buraidah narrated that his father said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah has commanded me to love four people, and He told me that He also loves them.' He was asked: 'O Messenger of Allah, who are they?' He said: ''Ali is one of them,' and he said that three times, 'and Abu Dharr, Salman and Miqdad.'"  ( I like to mention that Abu Dharr, Salman and Miqdad were all companions of Imam Ali)   https://sunnah.com/urn/1251490   And narrated Sad that the Prophet (ﷺ) said to 'Ali, "Will you not be pleased from this that you are to me like Aaron was to Moses?"
https://sunnah.com/bukhari/62/57
It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "They say that the Prophet (ﷺ) made a will for 'Ali,[1] but he called for a basin in which to urinate, then he went flaccid suddenly (and died), so how could he leave a will?!" The Shaikh said: Azhar (one of the narrators) is Ibn Sa'd As-Samman. [1] Meaning, appointing him as the Khalifah.   https://sunnah.com/urn/1000330     Aswad b. Yazid reported:
It was mentioned before A'isha that will had been made (by the Holy Prophet) in favour of 'Ali (as the Prophet's first caliph), whereupon she said: When did he make will in his favour? I had been providing support to him (to the Holy Prophet) with my chest (or with my lap). He asked for a tray, when he fell in my lap (relaxing his body), and I did not realise that he had breathed his last. When did he make any will in his ('Ali's) favour?   Aisha lying to the people and saying that the Prophet never left a Will and appointed Ali as the first caliph. https://sunnah.com/Muslim/25/28   Narrated 'Ali bin Hussain: from his father, from his grandfather, 'Ali bin Abi Talib: "The Prophet (ﷺ) took Hasan and Hussain by the hand and said: 'Whoever loves me and loves these two, and their father and mother, he shall be with me in my level on the Day of Judgement." https://sunnah.com/urn/636120   It was narrated that 'Ali said: "The Prophet [SAW] made a covenant with me that none would love me but a believer, and none would hate me but a hypocrite." https://sunnah.com/nasai/47/38

As salaamun aleikum br,
Welcome to Shia Chat
I can relate to your situation in a similar way. I am a convert of 10 years to Shia Islam. Originally, I as well as the rest of my family were catholic, but in my teens I became a strange sort of agnostic. I "felt" inside there was "something" greater than me, and I also knew right from wrong when it came to certain societal pressures and personal choices, hiwever, the classic idea of "God" according to Christianity did not sit well with me. I couldnt accept such a limited idea. Long story short, after the loss of my iranian, non-practicing fiance due to a brain aneurysm when I was 29, I went on a serious quest for spiritual answers..after much study into different religions, I became Shia. 
Regards your original post, of the 3 of us siblings, the youngest is a good Christian, alhamdulilah, but the middle one is a self proclaimed atheist. He is not very social w ANYONE,  but 5 years back, him and I had some dialogue which was fairly philosophical and spiritual in nature. Nothing "religious" or dogmatic, just trying to present facts to help him towards the "non existence is impossible, so everything could not have come from nothing" line of thinking. Im not sure that went anywhere. He is still the same today. Hes had a rough life and may have some psychiatric issues.
At this point all I can do is to be the best Muslim version of myself as possible. Maybe that will have an effect on him. In all actuality, it is out of my hands as it is Allah(سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) who is Al Hadi (The Guide) and He doesnt need me to guide my brother. He can guide through angels or even the right kind of dream, so don’t lose hope, but don’t cut your connection with your brother either. In sha Allah he will be guided, and if he isnt guided in this life, just know that Allahs(سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) mercy procedes His wrath.
W/s

I think he named his son Umar after Umar ibn Abi Salama, the first husband of the Prophet's wife, Umm Salama

I think he named his son Umar after Umar ibn Abi Salama, the first husband of the Prophet's wife, Umm Salama

I think Whatsapp is another major claimant to our precious resource known as time.

I recommend reading Peshawar nights

Every religion has parts that are man-made.
The Islam of today also has parts that are man-made.
But the original Islam given to us by our Holy Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) and our Imam (عليه السلام) was not man-made.

I think he named his son Umar after Umar ibn Abi Salama, the first husband of the Prophet's wife, Umm Salama

I think he named his son Umar after Umar ibn Abi Salama, the first husband of the Prophet's wife, Umm Salama

I think he named his son Umar after Umar ibn Abi Salama, the first husband of the Prophet's wife, Umm Salama

Salam, 
If you can count, I would suggest you to start counting how many times Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was mentioned in Qur'an by his designation I.e., Rasool, Nabi, Khatam un Nabiyyeen etc. 
Then start counting his titles I.e., warner, witness, bearer of glad tidings, bright lamp, summoner etc.
Then by names TaHa, YaSeen, Muzzammil, Muddathir, Ahmed etc.

Every religion has parts that are man-made.
The Islam of today also has parts that are man-made.
But the original Islam given to us by our Holy Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) and our Imam (عليه السلام) was not man-made.

In that case, brother, Sunni Islam is the real Islam.

Every religion has parts that are man-made.
The Islam of today also has parts that are man-made.
But the original Islam given to us by our Holy Prophet ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) and our Imam (عليه السلام) was not man-made.