freedom Flashcards
how does one achieve true freedom
true freedom comes from speaking the word of God without hesitant or thinking about the costs associate and the person is free from internal and external restriction
external factors
factors outside ourselves that threaten or destroy our power to exercise choice
- more external freedom = greater scope of choices that will contribute to our happiness
- if a person is suffering starvation, they may be coerced into actions to meet basic needs
internal factors
factors that come from our interior that inhibit our freedom of choice
- e.g. freedom from fear and addiction
why people fail to find true freedom
consumerism strong desires blindness to injustice stress, anxiety ignorance of moral principles sense of self-sufficiency government social conditions
catholic: define freedom
capacity to follow Christ and direct ourselves towards goodness
“Authentic freedom is an exceptional sign of the divine image within man. For God has made man “under the control of his won decisions” so that he can seek his creator spontaneously and come freely to utter and blissful perfection through loyalty to him” GeS
catholic: worldly possessions and freedom
more riches one has the greater distance there is between you and God and this restricts freedom
catholic: achieving true freedom today
accept Jesus in your life and be in harmony with God
Jesus gave us the freedom not to be subject to sin through his resurrection
must detach ourselves from possessions
catholic: conscience
deep inside everyone is a law that summons one to love good and avoid evil
by having freedom you are free to listen to conscience
secular: define freedom
secular understanding of freedom often sees “It perversely as a license for doing whatever pleases them even if it is evil (Gaudium et Spes)
the right to choose, right to do and have something you desire without restrictions
secular: worldly possessions and freedom
the more money one has the more liberty and freedom they have
secular: achieving true freedom today
being politically free - freedom of religion and to have basic human rights
cant ever really be free as there are laws which govern society
secular: conscience
conscience is often sacrificed for the concept of democracy and what is deemed to be popular
freedom and gods original plan
- the desire or yearning for freedom is part of being human and has a purpose
- first revealed in creation stories, catholics believe that all God creates is good, people are created in Gods image, begin existence knowing and relating fully to God
- created with free will and the ability to choose the goodness and love that God offers all
human sinfullness
- first humans made choices that reject God and thus harming relationship
- Genesis 11 God reaches out to people through abraham with intention of calling people back to God, freely make choice
the will of God
Gods will is not forced on people. God desires that each person comes to know and love God. love cannot be forced and demands a free response. the human person has the freedom to choose - free will
free will
- required for a person to possess moral responsibility
- human person has the freedom to choose good from evil
- if a person voluntarily makes a choice they are responsible
- “Man, tempted by the devil, let his trust in his creator die in his heart and, abusing his freedom, disobeyed Gods command” (CCC 397)
CCC 397
“Man, tempted by the devil, let his trust in his creator die in his heart and, abusing his freedom, disobeyed Gods command”
freedom in the old testament
- people can harm their relationship, experience consequences of their choices then through the efforts of God they’re brought back
- consequences of harming relationship is slavery, return is liberation
Jesus as the source of freedom
- Jesus and his incarnation, life, ministry, passion, death and resurrection
- in CT, Jesus is presented as reversing the choice of A&E
- Jesus both shows and empowers people in their search for true freedom
what 3 things must someone do to follow jesus
- know jesus, if you dont, you cant relate to him and draw upon the freedom he offers
- know his teachings, how they relate to your life
- relate to jesus personally and live as he taught
freedom in the new testament
letter to the Ephesians (1:3-4, 13-19)
- jesus as the source of freedom
Galatians 5:1
for freedom christ has set us free: stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery
2 Corinthians 3:17
now the lord is the spirit and where the spirit of the lord is there is freedom
acts 10:43
to him all prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name
Psalm 118:5
out of distress I called on the lord; the lord answered me and set me free
define conscience
a persons most secret core and sanctuary
a complex process, the process of making moral judgement
leads people to understand themselves as responsible for their actions and guides them to do good rather than bad
3 elements of any moral decision
- the object chosen
- the end circumstances or the intention
- the circumstances of the action
four principles of coscience
- your obliged to form your own conscience
- follow sincere conscience judgement
- does not decide right from wrong
- a good end doesn’t justify immoral means
external structures that assist in search for freedom
laws of god, sacraments, 10 commandments, the beatitudes
the ten commandments
- knowledge of what is morally right and wrong
- enhances peoples freedom by teaching us morally good behaviour’s that protect the dignity and integrity of everyone
- without the guidance of Gods wisdom we lack the knowledge to make good choices
- prevents us from sinning and making wrong choices
- set us free from slavery and sin, free to make good moral choices that align with gods teachings
the beatitudes
- Jesus’ moral teachings found in the sermon on the mount
- when we know God better we are more equipped to discern and understand gods will
- help set us free from the control of material things and selfish impulses
- remedy towards our slavery to sin caused by adam and eve
- can only find true happiness and freedom through God, to get closer to god we need a strong relationship with him through the 10 commandments and beatitudes
natural law
moral law is natural because it is known by reason and not written out
moral bc it apples only to moral acts - actions of humans that involve an act of free will
divine law
- revealed by the 10 commandments, Jesus’ great commandments etc
- law that comes directly from the will of God in contrast to manmade law
- totally dependent upon human narrators and closely related to different cultures
consumerism
- belief that personal wellbeing and happiness is dependent on a very large level of consumption
- centre of happiness is material good
catholic criticisms of consumerism
- leaves the poor behind
- rich grow richer
- education is only beneficial to elite
- goes against the christian belief of solidarity and the common good
- people are defined in the measure that they can acquire things
- fosters insecurity, greed, envy and lust
- distorts our relationships
- blinds people to their intrinsic worth and authentic identity
