Are we really free?

Question

Most religions speaking of a man as a free being who is responsible for his actions and choices, though this image isn’t accurate.

If we look deeper into our lives, and try think of choices we’ve made will we find ourselves free?

Please take in consideration:

-The genetic map the person inherits by his ancestors which decides his physical shape, decides his intelligence, and many diseases or handicaps he might have.

-The place and time where he lived, and the effect of the family upon him, how much the values of his time will effect his choices.


-Take in consideration the school he will learn from, a poor child wouldn’t probably take a chance to have good education, a rich child on the other hand will have that chance.

-The environmental, economical, political ect.. situations of the country he lives in, and how that will effect his ideological path he might take.

With all above and many other effects we never chose, how much are we free?

-Will a Muslim child who raised in Mecca turn Christian?
-Will an African child from Somalia, who can barely find food to live think of developing nuclear power to his country?

How many of people have changed from the religion of their parents?!
To answer this: Please take a look at the world religions Map. (http://www.wamware.com/world-religions/map.htm)

Regards.

Answer 1

This is an eternal question, but there are also always modern day answers which change. This insight, a common one I believe, is in itself a clue as to how to go about answering it.

First of all the answer depends on the intent behind the question. I think your question turns its gaze on socio-economic and biological inequality ultimately. The foundational thing to deal with is biological determinancy, so often a given, with the godlike arbitration of DNA the deciding factor in everyone's case. From this common, and in fact mistaken viewpoint, your biology will determine your economic standing, through genes that give you intelligence and so on, securing you a good job.

However, this is in fact an ideological fantasy most often propounded to support and make biologically inherent what are ultimately changeable human social ideas. The truth is that the determinancy of DNA is an infinitely complex epiphenomenon, with DNA interacting constantly with the environment to form the organism. The environment, which in our case could be the socio-economic system or religion, social factors, is shaped by the organism and simultaneously feeds back and shapes the organism in a mutually developmental relationship.

So biological determinancy through the ultimate power of genes, not discounting crippling or terminal diseases, is mostly a social idea, not in fact backed by the science. This means that we are in fact free to shape our environments in ways that will reflect and catalyse our own development in a self-determined manner. In neurology it has been discovered that the brain 'writes' itself - another environment we create through our behaviour.

The problem comes down to socio-economic ideology and practice. It is fairly common knowledge that Darwin came up with the idea of natural selection after having read an influential essay by Thomas Malthus, an economist, on food supply and population control. We currently live in a world in which the economic system or environment favours behaviour that is ruthlessly competitive, often immoral, exploitative, distanced from human relations, greedy and selfish. This stands against many of our developments in other fields of human activity - music, spirituality, art, in which sensitive and considerate behaviour and dispositions are encouraged. Unfortunately the economic system we have underpins and undermines much of our social exchange, weakening these other areas.

For me personally, unless there is a revolution in socio-economics, then we will continue the rapacious behaviour that the current system encourages, with its military industrial complex profiting through war and destruction. It is our freedom to create the systems and environments by and through which we live. If we don't seize this faculty we are not free. Of course, if you're rich, capitalism works for you well on an immediate level - you have the economic power to create your own environment - nice house, good education, holidays etc. But on a wider scale it disempowers because it is destructive of the environment and social fabric. The destruction is now on our doorsteps. Terrorism, environmental degradation.

I could go on. This is a massive subject. I'll leave you a few sources to check out. Ultimately though, if your conclusions upon freedom leave you feeling confused, depressed and disempowered, you need to think again. We all have stuff to do now.

Answer 2

We are free to choose to do right or wrong. If you choose do wrong, you become imprisoned by the ramifications of those actions. Because for every action be it good or bad will have a reaction that too will be either good or bad.

I'd wrather have a good reaction that does not imprison me in a negative way ,the way the bad choices in life does. Guilt can imprison a person for life and cause them to look over their shoulders for their entire life.

But with the peace of mind that comes with doing right and living according to God's word and accepting His son Jesus as your savior, will bring you a peace and freedom from the guilt that satan uses to try to control you and your mind.If you do not choose to follow and accept Jesus as your savior, you already are the property of satan. I choose Jesus. Praise the Lord!!

Answer 3

Freedom it's always a relative issue, absolute freedom doesn't exist. The human kind will never be free of it's own human nature, the same human nature that created false gods and imaginary religions, instead of believe in our wonderful, powerful (and god-free) human spirit.

Answer 4

If i gets a gamble to make a ingredient unfastened to might magogi ki mujhay bhaut sara nutrition miley jo ki might un garib human beings's might baat saku jinay ki nutrition nahi mil tha or bina nutrition kay hi mar ja thay hai.

Answer 5

God has given us free will, or the right to do what ever we want to do. That doesn't always make us free. Some say that I am not free because I worship God and His Son, Jesus Christ. But it is my free will to worship Him. Through my faith in God, and my acceptence that I am a sinner, God has set me free of my sins. I still live under a nation of laws, but I have the ability to not obey them. We all do. So enlight of what I just said, I believe that I am FREE.

Answer 6

WE are always free to choose to be the best we can and we choose to love and show kindness! While we might be bound by the physical we are as free as we choose to be.

Answer 7

Freedom's just another word for nothin left to loose .....

(Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me_And_Bobby_McGee

http://ntl.matrix.com.br/pfilho/html/lyrics/m/me_and_bobby_mcgee.txt

Answer 8

Go to China and ask this!

Oh wait you would be slaughtered for typing this. Your lucky YOU were born in the USA or Europe.

Answer 9

Yeah, we're free to born, work from 9 to 5 and die.

Answer 10

God gave us freedom on reasonable limits! We cannot do something illegal(such as take the life of a person! Thats illegal!)! You are responsible for your actions and you should notchallenge your freedom!