Freedom is not a simple concept. Let's start with free will. Do we have free will? Yes and no. We have many choices we can make, and we are free to pick any one, but, which one we choose is often greatly influenced by our personal history and our cultural history. If I am a five foot tall, Saudi Arabian woman, I am not likely to choose to be an NBA power forward. If I am sixty years old, it is unlikely that I will decide to win next year's Masters Tournament. If I am 90 and never finished high school, it is darn unlikely that I will take up particle physics. I am free in all of those instances to do the unlikely, but odds are, I will not.
There is 'freedom to." We are free to try to do just about anything. If you wish to rob banks, there is no one that can stop you from trying. Now, if you go ahead, there are potentially dire consequences, but there is no prior restraint. This kind of freedom, can be important. We are free to believe any religion we wish to, or none, if that is our preference. However, it is very easy for this kind of freedom to become juvenile, a sort of 'you can't make me,' kind of thing. Or, 'I'll do just as I please.' There is truth and a sort of freedom in both those statements but, they can become childish. No one can stop you from living on ice cream, but it is a terrible idea. Still, there are people who will do something just because they are told they can't.
There is also 'freedom from.' In our culture, we believe, or say we believe, that people should be free from hunger. We say that people should be free from violent attacks. We certainly do not live up to these statements, but they are common values and they are important. Just as important is a more personal form of freedom. Freedom from compulsions is, to me, the highest, most mature form of freedom. For example, if I am 100 pounds over weight, and I cannot stop eating 12 Twinkies every day, I have a serious and deadly compulsion, and my life would be better off if I was free from it. If, ever week, I bet half my paycheck on a race horse, I am slave to a compulsion.
In both of these cases, I am free to do these things, but, I would be better off to be free from the compulsion to do them. However, to show you how complex this concept of freedom is, I am free to do them, and, if I come from a culture where these are acceptable behaviors, and there are such cultures, it is unlikely that I will change, and, If I do, I become outcast by that culture.
Freedom and free will are difficult concepts and something we all struggle with. Be gentle with others who are dealing with these issues, and a bit harsh with yourself when you are dealing with them. You cannot force others to change, but you must force yourself if you want to be free.
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Friday, August 19, 2016
Stop Worrying
Humans worry. It seems to be inherent to our species, but, it is useful to learn to stop it, and it can be stopped.
Learn this. Realize it and embrace it. We worry because we do not know the future. None of us do. We can see trends and possibilities, likelihoods even, but not a definitive future. The Creator has given freedom to Creation, a great gift, indeed.
There is no predestination. Prophecies are no more than guesses. It might interest you to know that the works of the biblical prophets, Jeremiah and such, were written in Babylon, after the events had occurred. Prophet in the Bible did not mean a teller of the future. It meant someone who spoke for Yahweh. They were explaining why the Hebrews had been defeated and captured. They did make a few guesses about the future and, they were wrong. At least I have not seen Yahweh leading Israel into battle and destroying their enemies. I surely have not seen their enemies bowing to them. bringing them riches and worshipping Yahweh. Nor do I expect to.
As far as Jesus, well, I am fairly sure he won't be popping back in. It has been over 2000 years and the Second Coming seems to have been naught but a wishful thought.
Why do humans keep believing that the future is pre determined? Simple. We do not like the idea that we do not know. I want to tell you that this is what is keeping the human race from solving its many problems.
Worrying does not solve anything. It simply makes you tired and old. Accept the fact that we do not know what will happen in the next 20 seconds and lose the burden of worry.
My Dad, who love horse racing, told me a story that has always stuck with me. One day at the track, a nice day with out a sign of a storm brewing. one little cloud developed. One. After a race, as the jockeys were getting off their mounts, that one little cloud emitted one bolt of lightening, and that one bolt hit one jockey, killing him. That cloud then dissipated and was gone. One cloud. One lightening bolt. Completely unpredictable. Any of that man's worries, anything he had fretted over that day, suddenly, did not matter.
Revel in the freedom that gives you. Then, get busy and do what you need to and what you want.
Learn this. Realize it and embrace it. We worry because we do not know the future. None of us do. We can see trends and possibilities, likelihoods even, but not a definitive future. The Creator has given freedom to Creation, a great gift, indeed.
There is no predestination. Prophecies are no more than guesses. It might interest you to know that the works of the biblical prophets, Jeremiah and such, were written in Babylon, after the events had occurred. Prophet in the Bible did not mean a teller of the future. It meant someone who spoke for Yahweh. They were explaining why the Hebrews had been defeated and captured. They did make a few guesses about the future and, they were wrong. At least I have not seen Yahweh leading Israel into battle and destroying their enemies. I surely have not seen their enemies bowing to them. bringing them riches and worshipping Yahweh. Nor do I expect to.
As far as Jesus, well, I am fairly sure he won't be popping back in. It has been over 2000 years and the Second Coming seems to have been naught but a wishful thought.
Why do humans keep believing that the future is pre determined? Simple. We do not like the idea that we do not know. I want to tell you that this is what is keeping the human race from solving its many problems.
Worrying does not solve anything. It simply makes you tired and old. Accept the fact that we do not know what will happen in the next 20 seconds and lose the burden of worry.
My Dad, who love horse racing, told me a story that has always stuck with me. One day at the track, a nice day with out a sign of a storm brewing. one little cloud developed. One. After a race, as the jockeys were getting off their mounts, that one little cloud emitted one bolt of lightening, and that one bolt hit one jockey, killing him. That cloud then dissipated and was gone. One cloud. One lightening bolt. Completely unpredictable. Any of that man's worries, anything he had fretted over that day, suddenly, did not matter.
Revel in the freedom that gives you. Then, get busy and do what you need to and what you want.
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