What kind of freedom? | News, Sports, Jobs – Marshalltown Times Republican

Our country boasts we are a free nation, and we have a military that is willing to defend our freedom. But what is this freedom we are willing to die for?

Today much of our culture defines freedom as Freedom From, a rejection of any constraints on our choices and a belief that no one should tell others what to think or how to behave; a belief that there are no moral absolutes everyone must conform to.

This is known as secular or negative freedom. Religion is an enemy of freedom because it recognizes a moral standard. With no shared values there is no consensus in society, law can become arbitrary. Involvement in community wanes as individuals wish to live independently, as they desire.

This freedom becomes an excuse for selfishness, where compassion is replaced by self-interest. Lack of involvement and commitment erodes democracy, and eventually leads to an immense bureaucratic government where citizens end up with very little freedom. When virtue is inadequate, government needs to constrain individuals behaviors.

Negative freedom is selfish-centered happiness; but individuals find no lasting happiness as their lives become unanchored to any deeper purpose. This can lead to addictive behaviors as they participate in distractions from a life that lacks deeper meaning; these behaviors can manifest as slavery to sinful lifestyle choices.

Our nation was founded on Positive Freedom, defined as Freedom For; a freedom that citizens use to accomplish positive things. This freedom is not the absence of constraints but instead the limitations on freedom, choosing the right constraints. It is virtue and unselfish behavior that makes freedom possible.

True Freedom is a personal responsibility, and a submission to an accepted moral code. Unless you can honor the constraints required for human relationships you will never experience the freedom of societal peace. We cannot survive committed only to ourselves; we are inherently dependent upon each other. We need morals and constraints if we expect to be able to live with others. Free and willingly virtuous people have little need for an oppressive government that controls peoples behaviors, robbing people of freedom.

Happiness comes from relationships with others. There is no greater freedom than to love and be loved, and not having to face the world by ourselves. This freedom is commitment to mutual sacrifice, and not exploitation of others for self-centered reasons.

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What kind of freedom? | News, Sports, Jobs - Marshalltown Times Republican