HUMAN FREEDOM
Problem:
Human Freedom is
misunderstood as
“doing what I
want.”
Am I free to
steal?
A simple explanation to
the exercise:
• There is an impossibility
of responding to the
question with a simple
YES or No. why?
Am I free to steal?
A simple explanation to the
exercise:
• If we simply said YES, I would be
rejecting the 7th Commandment.
• If we simply answered “NO,” I
would be denying any need for
the 7th commandment!
Am I free to steal?
A simple explanation to the exercise:
* The only adequate answer is: “YES, I
have the capacity to freely choose to
steal, but I am morally obliged NOT to
exercise my freedom in stealing, since
this contradicts the authentic use of my
freedom in communion with others’
freedom.
Example:
By throwing
garbage
everywhere affect
the freedom of
others of not
having clean and
healthy
environment.
1. The capacity to choose to perform a
moral
act;
and
HUMAN
FREEDOM2. The exercise of this capacity: to do
good (authentic exercise), or to do
evil.
HUMAN
FREEDOM
• It is a basis for all
moral acts and
therefore of the
work of conscience.
• We are free
because we have
reason (Intellect)
and will—we are
rational beings.
HUMAN FREEDOM
• Without
freedom,
no
morality. thus, all moral
acts whether good or evil
are free acts.
• Authentic
human
freedom is a shared
capacity with others in
the community to the
good found in truth. (CFC
HUMAN
FREEDOM
Can refer to:
1. The capacity for selfdetermination = refers
to the will or the
capacity to make a
choice, or seeing
possibilities, potentials,
to make commitment, to
make an irrevocable
HUMAN FREEDOM
Can refer to:
2. Context = refers
to the free
situations where
we find ourselves
in and in which
we are able to
exercise our
freedom.
HUMAN FREEDOM
Can refer to:
3. The choice itself =
the good or evil is
chosen and is
undertaken. The
experience of
freely choosing the
act.
HUMAN
FREEDOM
Can refer to:
4. Fundamentally selfformed by these three
= refers to the kind of
person formed by
his/her acts. (CFC
697)
HUMAN FREEDOM
Our human vocation to become
free.
Our human vocation to be free is
grounded on the truth that
“man was created in the
image and likeness of God”
(Gen. 1:26), redeemed by the
blood of Christ (Eph. 1:17),
sanctified by the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:1416) called to be children of
God (1 Jn. 3:1), and destined
for eternal life. (CFC 685)
To become free is both our goal and task:
• Authentic Freedom is an exceptional
HUMAN
of
the
divine
image
within
man
for
God
FREEDOM
willed the man should be left in the hand of
his own counsel.
(GS. 17)
AUTHENTIC FREEDOM
Involves:
• Freedom from = whatever
opposes our true self-becoming
with others in community. (CFC
696)
• Freedom for = growing as full
persons before God and our
fellow human persons, in
authentic love.
(CFC 720)
AUTHENTIC
FREEDOM
Two levels of freedom for:
• Freedom of choice = the freedom by which
we direct our moral acts the freedom to
choose, to act in this or that way, to do
good or evil;
• Fundamental freedom = the freedom of
our very selves formed gradually by our
free acts; refers to our “moral being” as a
human person.
Freedom of children of God:
AUTHENTIC
FREEDOM
“ Freedom of the children of God” = means the
freedom we share by the power of Christ’s
spirit within us that liberates us from the
enslavement of sin, the law and death, for
a life of loving service of our fellowmen.
(CFC 722)
AUTHENTIC FREEDOM
Freedom of children of
God:
“ Since human freedom
has weakened by sin, it
is only by the help of
God’s grace that man
and woman give his
actions their full and
proper relationship.
(GS 17)
AUTHENTIC FREEDOM
Freedom of children of God:
“ The grace-filled indwelling
of God and empowerment
of the Risen Christ receive
in the sacraments,
especially in the Eucharist
enable us to use
responsibly our freedom
overcome sin, live in true
freedom as guided by law
and transcend our physical
death by sharing in
Christ’s eternal life.” (CFC
722)
AUTHENTIC
FREEDOM
Freedom of children of God:
“ We find true selves by
acting as Jesus our Lord
did and live happily the
fruit of the Spirit in our
free choices (Gal. 5:22)
which is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness,
generosity, faithfulness,
gentleness and selfcontrol.