Tuesday 27 May 2014

On Freedom



Many years ago, I can recall being set an essay to comment on the quote "Man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains," by someone called Rousseau.
This was a very alarming undertaking, made considerably worse by not knowing anything about French philosophers or what certain college lecturers might like to read. Instead of pretending to be very informed about either subject, I can recall noting all the ways in which a student could feel restricted, blaming various organisations, including the government and police. Since these observations addressed that particular area of the curriculum, and lecturers like having their lectures quoted back at them, somehow I passed that essay!

Even then I had a somewhat uncomfortable feeling there were bits neither of us had thought of.

These days I cannot pretend to be any wiser about Jean-Jacques Rousseau although this isolated statement, taken perhaps well out of the original context, continues to make me think. The world continues to be unjust in how it apportions resources and it is a tragic reality for many people that they still are so far away from freedom. We are victims of our own decisions, and fate also has a cruel tendency to place us in chains.

Those chains of oppression have a tendency to change according to circumstance. For some the struggle for survival could well require every possible resource yet still result in chains. In societies however, where there is law, stability, human rights, material safety, and the option of being content, it would seem ironic that we still somehow seem to end up in chains.



It would seem to me that we shall never experience complete independence because it is part of human nature to submit. If one source of oppression is removed, we will simply replace it with another because human beings naturally choose to be led. Instead of allowing ourselves freedom, we allow ourselves to be influenced, effectively tied down in chains.

Instead of being entirely free it is almost impossible to walk through a shopping centre without believing that there is something that you need.
It is hard to feel content, because we have chosen to accept the guidance of advertisements, as our teachers.
It is hard to feel happy with who you are because we have adopted certain role models which stress the importance of perfection and success.
It is hard to love your own body because somehow there is an image of perfection fixed in our minds.
It is hard to feel valued, because we have chosen to adopt a culture of competition which involves making judgements about ourselves and each other.
It is hard to feel full, when obliged to take all that there is to offer.
It is hard to feel safe whilst believing we are entitled to be led by our emotions.
It is hard to feel happy when we are told to keep raising the level of expectations.
It is hard to forgive because we are supposed to be governed by reason which allows us to retaliate and stand up for ourselves.
Chains are an inevitable fact of life.

Since we are bound through our very nature to be governed in some way, it would seem unrealistic to expect that we can simply throw away our chains. Instead I would like to believe that there is an opportunity for freedom through actively listening out for God. In each moment there would seem to be a choice between being an ambassador for God's Kingdom on earth, or self employed and entirely wrong.

When people sometimes ask me if Quakers believe in God?
I am aware of the many other available chains and ask myself,
Who else should they follow?








1 comment:

  1. So are you suggesting that Quakers do or maybe should believe on God?
    Though our understanding about what it means to follow this God can and maybe even should differ, at least a bit?

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