Is personal liberty NOT a Biblical concept?

Answer 1

Of course it is. Obedience and coercion are two totally different things.

Jesus spoke of "counting the cost" of discipleship. You consider the cost of something when deciding whether or not to buy it. The cost isn't extracted from you. You have a choice to buy or not to buy.

As with many other things in life, what we don't have a choice about is whether or not there are consequences - good or bad - born of our choices. But that doesn't take away our personal liberty to choose. Choosing with an awareness of consequences is what responsibility is born of.

Answer 2

Well, you've got to remember that the idea of "self" was a fairly radical concept around the time of Plato (B.C.) and the feudal system later all but wiped it out. So concepts like personal liberty and individual rights weren't a concept that was really thought of. Jesus was teaching a fairly radical concept for his time by saying "We are all the sons of God, and all equal as children of God".
Which is why the people mis-interpreted what he was saying, and built up a religion of worship of him as a God. It was too radical a concept for the everyday person to understand.

Answer 3

Since when has any religion been about personal liberty?

Religions demand unwavering faith and often prescribe severe punishments for even questioning official doctrine.

Its also instructive to understand what people mean by "free will." From a Judeo-Christian perspective, its the notion that god gave humanity the ability to choose good over evil.

Of course now we understand that such a narrow definition flies in the face of science and reason. But religion is not about nuance. It's not about the gray areas. It's black and white. So why is that?

The reason is that religions, like all institutions, marginalize dissent. And the leaders of these institutions codify their authority so that their opinions are unimpeachable. Leaders have flocks or constituencies which must be kept in line.

Answer 4

I would think the concept of free will is personal liberty.

Answer 5

Where's the liberty in being told you have no religious freedom and have to down tools once a week to worship some megalomaniac?

Answer 6

What if 'god' wants his followers to ask questions, about this thing we call life? Instead of blindly believing everything in the Bible is the "literal" truth - based on being told / taught / instructed to by another person.

There has to be a reason, that we enjoy investigating the world around us and gaining more knowledge.

Answer 7

It is one of the results of appplying the 2 or more witnesses principle given to the Jews and Christians.

Answer 8

I think the book of Leviticus makes that pretty clear:

19:20 And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.

Among a million other examples.

Answer 9

I have complete personal liberty. I can do whatever I want. IF I want to pay the consequences. It's just like the First Amendment - I have the right to say whatever I want - but - if people choose to not listen or to boycott me - - that's the price of freedom!

Answer 10

No, quite the opposite, actually. The Bible preaches that we live according to another entity's rules. Personal freedom just doesn't fit in to that concept.