Freedom in Christianity
Let's try to figure out what freedom gives a person and its meaning in the Christian view, in which (as in other religions) the concept is interpreted very simply.
Most likely, you will need information on how to wear the red thread from Jerusalem.
Definition of the concept
The question of defining this concept is one of the most important in government and science. It is also raised by the church. In general, three main directions can be distinguished:
- simple, ordinary;
- social;
- spiritual.
The first two types imply the right to choose actions in our daily lives. They are relatively simple. That is, not to depend on anyone, either physically or morally. This is exactly what is provided by law. Despite the fact that the legislation of most countries is often structured differently, today there is not a single state where physical and moral independence is not legally ensured.
Spiritual freedom
The state does not consider the concept of spiritual freedom. However, for religion, spirituality comes first. According to the Church, a person whose mind is abstracted from the material is free. At the same time, he may be physically shackled. The Apostle Paul wrote that only a correct life, in renunciation of earthly passions , brings a person to God. And the person who is dependent on his desires and material things is a slave.
When Christianity talks about mastery over passions, it means, first of all, human pride. It is precisely this that does not allow one to abandon earthly temptations and gain spiritual freedom. Physical independence is also a fairly important factor, but not the dominant one. At many times there were persecutions against Christians. This happened both in the Middle Ages and at a later time. The Church claims that it was the free spirit that helped Christians endure persecution and even spread the religion. That is, with an unfree body, when they were chained, they were spiritually above the suffering of the body. This allowed us to survive the persecution.
Church about the modern world
Today the holy fathers say that in the modern world the concept of “false freedom” has become widespread. That the forces of evil, and not only good, can demand will for themselves. Here the example points to modern society. The desire to achieve freedom can lead not only to prosperity, but also to the degradation of society. Protest against established principles and traditions - this is exactly what is happening in the world today. On the one hand, this is undoubtedly a positive desire for independence. On the other hand, such a desire often leads not to good, but to evil, because the path chosen is not creation, but destruction.
Democracy today seems to provide a person with physical independence. But, one way or another, not all people have equal rights, and you can’t argue with that. In any case, the head of state has many more rights than an ordinary citizen. But people also choose the president for themselves. They deliberately choose their leader, because it is more convenient for them to be commanded. In this case, there is less responsibility, less worries. There is no need to strive for anything.
However, in this context, it is worth noting that religious entities are not equal in their rights. The same Christianity, undoubtedly, due to its prevalence, will have more rights than a small sect. Therefore, religious freedom is also a rather controversial issue today.
Types of liability
It happens:
- social;
- moral;
- political;
- historical;
- legal;
- collective;
- personal (individual);
- group.
There are different examples of responsibility. This includes the case when, having discovered traces of cyanide in Tylenol capsules, it refused to produce this product. The total loss was $50 million. Subsequently, the company's management stated that they were taking all possible measures to protect the population. This is an example of social responsibility. Unfortunately, such cases are very rare in the modern consumer market.
We can give everyday examples of responsibility and freedom: when a person has the freedom to choose the music he wants to listen to, but there are also restrictions on the time he can listen to it (if the music is very loud after eleven in the evening, administrative responsibility arises, as a result of which faces a fine).
Freedom and love in terms of the Church
Christianity considers any issue from one position: God is love . That the main thing in our existence is the feeling of love for everything that exists. A person becomes freer when he approaches all-encompassing love, and vice versa. That freedom can only be in God. Love for God.
The Church uses this criterion to differentiate the pursuit of the will in the context of the modern world. If the path a person wants to follow leads him to love, it is the right one. If the direction does not lead to love, it is false. According to Christianity, love is destroyed by passions:
- love of money;
- popularity;
- voluptuousness.
Where there is a craving for fame, money, pleasure, there cannot be love.
According to the Church, material things are of little importance. Turning to the Christian life (following the commandments, giving up material temptations, etc.) can help to gain spiritual, main, freedom.
Concept of responsibility
It is a category of law and ethics, which reflects the moral, legal and social attitude of the individual to all humanity in general and specifically to society. Building a modern society, strengthening the conscious principle within the framework of its social life, introducing the people to independence in relation to the management of society, and all this along with the ethical responsibility of each individual.
Within the legal framework, there is administrative, criminal and civil liability, which, in addition to identifying the corpus delicti, also takes into account the ethical components of the offender (the conditions of his upbringing, occupation, degree of awareness of his guilt, the presence of a desire for further correction). Against this background, moral and legal responsibility are intertwined (the process of an individual’s awareness of the interests of society subsequently leads to an understanding of the laws of the progressive nature of the development of history).
Respect for all rights and freedoms of the individual, as well as the existence of responsibility before the law for crimes committed, is the main feature of the rule of law.
The evolution and improvement of human civilization dictate the need for civilized development and the legal aspect, as a result of which the concept of a purely legal state has emerged, which has become the equivalent of any statehood.
Legal chaos disappeared into existence (human rights and freedoms were not ensured or protected in any way). Today, society has in its arsenal new methods of legal arrangement of the individual, providing him with confidence in the future.
Models of the relationship between man and society
There are only three of them:
- The struggle for freedom (irreconcilable and open conflict of these categories).
- Adaptation to the environment (the individual voluntarily follows the laws of nature, while sacrificing his aspiration and desire to be free).
- Escape from the surrounding reality (a person, realizing his powerlessness in the struggle for freedom, goes to a monastery or withdraws into himself).
Thus, in the process of understanding how freedom and responsibility are interrelated, human behavior must be taken into account. If an individual clearly understands why he is performing a specific action and does not try to go against established social norms and rules, then the categories in question are in perfect harmony with each other.
A person as an individual can realize himself only if he uses his freedom as the right to choose. It can also be noted that no matter how high this life position is, the means and methods of achieving it will be in harmony with the laws of the evolution of the surrounding reality. The concept of responsibility, in turn, is associated with the need to make a choice of ways and means to ensure the achievement of the desired goal.
So, we can conclude that freedom contributes to the manifestation of individual responsibility, and responsibility acts as its guiding stimulus.
Tasks
1. Give arguments supporting the conclusion about the impossibility of absolute, unlimited human freedom in society.
2. Which of the two statements below do you think is more true?
“Our life is a line that we must, at the behest of nature, describe on the surface of the globe, without being able to move away from it for a single moment.”
“The course of things seems inevitable only to those who have betrayed their convictions. History itself can neither force a person nor draw him into a dirty business. Man carries the whole weight of the world on his shoulders: he is responsible for the world and himself.”
3. Explain how you understand the expression: “Freedom is choice.”
4. Describe the various models of a free society. What are your ideas about such a society?
5. Sometimes freedom is understood as permissiveness. At the beginning of the 20th century. in Russian villages they sang the following ditty:
- There is no God, there is no need for a king. We will kill the governor, we will not pay taxes, we will not become soldiers.
What consequences can this interpretation of freedom lead to? Concretize your answer with examples.
Terms of sale
To realize desires and show will, certain conditions must exist:
- Social norms - the action must be legal in accordance with the legislation adopted in a particular period of time. We analyze whether the action will be appropriate in accordance with customs and traditions. A few centuries ago, wearing a short skirt or short shorts was unacceptable, but now you will get strange looks if you go out in a dress from the 15th century.
- Place in society is an important factor. In the Middle Ages, a serf peasant could not afford the same things as a master. Now it seems there is no place for this, but this is a mistaken opinion. People of the lower class with small salaries do not allow themselves to do what people of the upper class do, even if they want to.
- Forms of social activity - how your action is perceived depends on what form of activity it is. If you plant flowers in a flowerbed in a private house, and in the fall you cut them and put them in a vase, then everything is in order. But if you cut flowers from city flower beds, you may be fined.
- The level of development of society - people of the Middle Ages did not even have the desire to wear something like what we wear. Just like we have no desire to walk down the street in outdated clothes.
- An individual’s mastery of cultural norms and values of society—the level of culture that a person has mastered determines his will. Children who grew up in dysfunctional families with parents who are alcoholics and drug addicts show the same tendencies in adulthood.
Given favorable conditions, a person will express his will and will not face public condemnation or punishment by law.
Freedom is a relative concept and a key problem in philosophy for many centuries. Its understanding differs not only for each person, but also for the entire society, depending on the historical era in which it exists.
Document
How we protect our sense of freedom. From the book of the American social psychologist E. Aronson “The Social Animal.”
If persuasive messages are intrusive, then they may be perceived as an intrusion into the sphere of freedom of individual choice and thereby intensify the search for ways to protect against them. Thus, if a persistent salesman persuades me to buy his product, my first reaction will be to maintain my independence: I will prefer to leave the store as soon as possible.
Such resistance can manifest itself in various and interesting forms. Let's say I'm walking down the street and I'm politely asked to sign some petition. I don’t really understand the essence of what they are asking me to sign. But at that moment, when they explain to me what’s what, a certain person stops next to me and begins to openly “pressure” me, demanding that I not sign anything. In order to resist pressure and retain my freedom of choice, I am more likely to sign the proposed petition.
There is another aspect to the need for freedom and autonomy. All other things being equal, when faced with information that contradicts their beliefs, people tend to find counterarguments if possible. In this way, they can protect their own opinions from being unduly influenced by others and protect their own sense of autonomy.
Questions and tasks for the document
1. How, according to the psychologist, do people protect their inner freedom and autonomy? 2. Have situations similar to those described in the fragment ever happened to you? If yes, give examples of how you acted in such cases.
