Comprehensive Study Guide on Freedom, Sin, and Morality

Freedom is not merely a merit; it is the fruit of sacrifice.
Freedom is not an accident. It is destined, rather than being a result of chance or a simple byproduct of evolutionary biological theory, such as Darwin's theory.
Human beings do not primarily experience freedom as something given, borrowed, or entrusted (’bigay,’ ‘pahiram,’ or ‘pinaubaya’).
Freedom is a profound expression of the love of God. God initiated the creation of man and his freedom of His own initiative; no one told God to make man. He created man so that man would freely choose what is good.

The Church defines freedom as the capacity or power rooted in reason and will to act or not to act.
Rooted in Reason and Will: Freedom is tied to intelligibility and the reflection of one's actions.
While there is freedom to do many things, there are reasons not to do certain things. Freedom is not strictly an exercise of the will; it requires thinking first. We should do what God intended for us.
The dual components of freedom in action are:
- To act: This is the inclination to do good.
- Not to act: This is the capacity and choice to avoid evil.

There is a direct correlation between moral behavior and the degree of freedom possessed: the more one does good, the more one becomes free.
The Freeman: Defined as a person who is able to do what he must.
The Slave (Alipin): Defined as a person who is not able to do what he must. When individuals perform wrong or evil acts (‘gumagawa ng mali’), they become slaves to those actions. They lose the ability to stand up or perform the duties they should perform.
Freedom transitions through two stages:
- It begins with knowing what we want.
- It ends with doing what we must.
Choosing the good is a necessity; evil is often sought because it is mistaken for something ‘masarap’ (pleasant), but this leads to an abuse or misinterpretation of freedom.

Sin is categorized as an offense against reason, truth, and conscience.
Conscience: This is regarded as a sacred space within a person where they can hear the voice of God.
Sin represents a failure in genuine love for God and neighbor.
A failure happens when an obligation or standard that must be met is not met. Humans are commanded to love God and do what is right.
Evil: Defined as the abuse, mistake, or misinterpretation of freedom. It is essentially ‘trespasses’ or abuses of the freedom provided by God.

The gravity (‘kalubha’ or ‘kalala’) of a sin is evaluated based on how it impacts the charity of man. There are two primary categories:
- Mortal Sin: A sin that is so severe it destroys the charity within a person.
- Venial Sin: A sin that weakens the charity of a person but does not destroy it completely.
To determine the gravity of a sin, three conditions or criteria must be met:
1. Grave Matter: The act itself must be a serious violation (often contextualized by the 10 Commandments).
2. Full Knowledge: The person must know and be fully aware that the act is wrong.
3. Deliberate Consent: The person must be conscious and act with a deliberate conscience, choosing to commit the act despite knowing it is wrong.

An individual can be held responsible for a sin even if they didn't physically perform the act, through proliferation or participation in the following ways:
- By participating or volunteering in the act.
- By ordering, advising, praising, or approving of the sinful act.
- By not disclosing the act or failing to prevent it when possible.
- By protecting those who perform evil.