Choosing a Life - Free Will in Salesian Thought

What does St. Francis De Sales suggest about freedom and God's will?

Our will is never so free as when it is a slave to God's will.

How is the common perception of freedom described in the notes?

It is often misleading and equated with the lack of restraint or responsibility for actions.

What does Edmund Burke caution about unlimited freedom?

Before granting unlimited freedom, one should understand what it will please people to do.

What is the relationship between freedom and responsibility according to the notes?

Freedom is earned, not granted, and requires eternal vigilance.

What does Thomas Jefferson state about freedom?

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

According to Fannie Lou Hamer, who is free?

Nobody is free until everybody is free.

What is the biblical concept of freedom?

Freedom is from God and for God, and it is the capacity for love.

How does St. Paul describe the calling to freedom in Galatians 5:13?

He proclaims that believers are called to freedom but should not use it as an opportunity for the flesh.

What is the Salesian concept of freedom?

There is no love without the freedom to love, and freedom is a gift from God.

What does the phrase 'Freedom is not a license to do what we wish' imply?

Freedom is the gift to choose for the good, not just to act on whims.

What question does 'Determinism' raise about freedom?

Are we destined to be who we will be, and do our genes control our destiny?

What do twin studies reveal about human traits?

They show that all human traits are a combination of nature and nurture influences.

What is the significance of the statement 'We are not our genes'?

It emphasizes that we are defined by our choices, not just our genetic makeup.

What does epigenetics suggest about our choices?

Our choices can change us and are not determined solely by our genes.

What does the 'Fundamental Option' express?

It expresses our basic attitude toward self, others, and God, informing our decisions.

What are some of the big questions freedom allows us to ask?

Who do I want to be? How do I want to be remembered? What kind of legacy do I want to leave?

How does freedom relate to love according to the notes?

Freedom grows as we grow in love, and vice versa.

What is the inversion of the 'Do-Be-Have' relationship?

Striving to be the person God intends us to be, which influences our actions and what we ultimately have.

What does the hymn 'O Breathe on Me, O Breath of God' express?

A desire for alignment with God's will and purity of heart.

What is the purpose of Saint Francis de Sales' writings?

To help us make the right choices, which is to 'live Jesus'.

What does 'To live Jesus' mean in the context of freedom?

It means to choose for God and the good, even when it's a hard choice.

What are the Beatitudes and where are they found?

They are teachings from Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5:1-12.

What does the phrase 'Freedom implies the necessity of choice' mean?

Freedom involves making decisions that reflect our values and beliefs.

How does freedom relate to fulfillment and happiness?

Freedom prompts us to ask how we can be fulfilled and happy in our lives.

What is the relationship between love and freedom in the context of heaven?

In heaven, freedom will be converted into love and love into freedom.