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First Oral Exam Study Guide
First Oral Exam Study Guide
Theology 151
1.)
What is the relationship between freedom and
commitment? Can one be free and uncommitted at the
same time?
A.) Definition of Freedom and Commitment:
1.) Freedom: is the capacity of the human person to achieve his
final, irrevocable and eternal self
a. Karl Rahner: Freedom is the capacity of the subject . . .
to achieve his final and irrevocable self . . . it is the
event of something eternal
i. In freedom, we are performing the eternity which
we ourselves are and are becoming
ii. Human freedom is not some phantom commodity
that enjoys a life apart from particulars. Freedom
must be exercised in order to be (Haughey, 31)
b. God is the ground and goal of our freedom, since Gods
love is the only form of love that is able to embrace
ourselves in totality: Gods love can unite mankind
c. Freedom includes, but is more than freedom of choice
d. Haughey: Life shall be found when a person is willing to
particularize his choices in life our choices define who
we are as a person and gives us a sense of identity
i. Selfhood is grounded in our ability to particularize
our choices
2.) Commitment: A personal and formal choice made by an
individual, which symbolizes and represents a deeper direction
that one has chosen to take in ones life
a. A commitment cannot be consummated if there is no
promise: promise is an act which seals the deal
i. The promise is a particular kind of choice: the
unique feature about promise, is that it describes
something we intend to do in the future
ii. The one making a promise is not understood to be
making a prediction about himself, but rather, he
is asserting his firm intention
iii. Every promise, bind the one who makes it to some
future action: by giving his word, he is assuming
an obligation
iv. Promises are seen as a way for people to
determine themselves, and to create a new
relationship between another person and the
community that the individual is part of
b. Hannah Arendt and her book The Human Condition:
i. The making and keeping of promises are an
expression of one of the most ancient needs of
man
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
Jesus told them, in short, that they must become like children
if they wished to share in the reign of God
o The child holds the lowest possible status in
relationships based on the superiority/inferiority
structure
o The childs worth and security are constituted not by its
status or achievements, but simply by the generous love
of the parents
o Children does not care about achievements and
success: the love that their parents give is already
sufficient enough for them to feel complete