That's what our research writing prof asked us to do tonight. I sat there for like 10 minutes just staring at my paper. I honestly didn't think I was going to come up with anything, but I finally ended up with this:
Working from the idea that human beings were created with an intent and purpose, freedom is the ability for one to be what one was intended to be regardless of time, place or circumstance.
Yeah, I figured that I'd just stay as vague and abstract as possible and it'll sound brilliant.
9 comments:
The gift of our creator to order our lives as we choose.
heath,
some random thoughts about what you said-
i really struggled with using the work "choice" in my definition. partly because it seemed obvious and partly because i'm not sure freedom involves choice. in fact, i was the only person in my class who didn't include choice in their definition.
i think true freedom is only found in christ, that is, living as we were meant to live being image bearers of God. in class we asked the questions: what would freedom be to a battered woman? what would freedom be to an alcoholic or drug user? in those situations the obvious answer is freedom from the abusive husband or freedeom from the substance. so freedom, in those situations, is a release from a bondage. so in those situations bondage came from choices. and of course these are manifestations of a deeper bondage.
so i would say freedom is release from the bondage of the enemy to live as God's image bearer and when we live in that freedom we make the right choices.
crap, i don't know what happened, but anonymous is me.
Chris,
Both examples you gave still involve choice.
To be free from an abusive husband means you have been given choice.
To be free from alcoholism means that you have been given choice.
Likewise, to be free from sin means that God has restored our ability to choose.
My definition stands... Grace is the gift. Freedom is the result.
"Grace is the gift. Freedom is the result."
i agree. but i think you're original definition describes free will as opposed to freedom.
From the American Heritage Dictionary, definition 5:
Freedom: the capacity to exercise choice; free will.
Thus, I suggest to you that freedom and free will are synonomous.
from dictionary.com :)
1. the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint: He won his freedom after a retrial.
2. exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.
3. the power to determine action without restraint.
4. political or national independence.
5. personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery: a slave who bought his freedom.
Umm... ok.
I am confused... are you saying that dictionary.com contradicts my assertation that freedom and free will are synonomous? If so I am failing to see it...
well, i thought it was kind of funny you used the dictionary since this discussion was about your personal definition, but at the same time all the definitions i found dealt with freedom as being a release from some sort of bondage. all i'm saying is i think free will is part of freedom but does not define it because you can have free will and still not be free. in fact, free will usually leads to a loss of freedom.
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