Daher J - Freedom in Truth and Love. A Biblical Message of Salvation to a Fallen World

Jerome DAHER*

Prof. PhD Notre Dame University – Louize (Lebaon)

Abstract:

The exaltation of freedom, by the post-modern society, as man’s absolute good based on the supremacy of will over reason led to the negation of any transcendent truth and objective good. The consequences of such direction on human behavior are disastrous. The paper will explicit the Christian understanding of human freedom as a mean to human perfection and divinization by placing it in relation to divine freedom which is necessarily concomitant to and a consequence of divine intelligence and goodness. The definition of human freedom will be drawn from the word of God: its relation to intelligence, goodness and sacrifice in the Trinitarian communion and the act of creation; its relation to image and likeness in the making of Adam; its relation to alterity and love in the extraction of Eve; its relation to obedience and its loss in the fall; its relation to liberation and responsibility in exodus; and, finally, its relation to redemption and perfection in Jesus Christ.

Keywords:

image, likeness, freedom, truth, love

Bibliography:

  • Bonaventure. 2005. Breviloquium. Translation and Notes by Dominic V. Monti. O.F.M. Franciscan Institute Publications. New York: Saint Bonaventure University.
  • Bouyer, Louis. 1982. Cosmos. Paris: Cerf.
  • - Cantalamessa, Raniero. 2007. Remember Jesus Christ. Word Among Us Press.
  • Froger, Jean-François. 2017. Le livre de la Création. Editions Grégoriennes.
  • Grégoire de Nysse. 2002. La Création de l’homme. Paris: Editions du Cerf.
  • John Paul II. 1978, 6 December. General Audience. Wednesday (https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/audiences/1978/ documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_19781206.html)
  • John Paul II. 1993. Veritatis Splendor.
  • Lewis, C.S. 2001. Mere Christianity. HarperOne.
  • Origène. 2003. Homélie sur la Genèse. Sources Chrétiennes 7. Paris: Editions du Cerf.
  • Paul VI. 1965, 4 October. Address to the General Assembly of the United Nation. (https://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/speeches/1965/documents/hf_p-vi_spe_19651004_united-nations.html
  • Ratzinger, Joseph. 1996. “Truth and Freedom”. In: International Catholic Review Communio 23. Spring: 16-35.
  • Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. 1965. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes.
  • Thomas Aquinas. 1920. Summa Theologiae I Q.19 A.10. Second and Revised Edition. Literally translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province. Online Edition: http://www.newadvent. org/summa/1019.htm#article10.
  • Westermann, Claus. 1994. Genesis 1–11: A Continental Commentary. Fortress Press.