Freedom and christology according to "theologiae benedictae" : two concepts, two anthropologies, one Logos/Son

Abstract

The basis for theological reflection about freedom is the truth about creation of man in the image and likeness of God who is absolutely free. Here is the source of human’s yearning for freedom, pursued through endless tension between good and evil. Abstracting in the definition of freedom from the religious foundation inevitably leads to replacing the truth about freedom with the ideology of freedom, the example of which may be modern and contemporary liberal world views, converting themselves into totalitarian social and political systems. Though just in itself, the mere desire for freedom leads humans to nothingness and enslaves them, if it takes the form of lawlessness and Promethean struggle with God. Christianity shows that freedom is not a human prey, but a gift of God, grounded in ontology; the man is free because he was created and saved — he is a son in the Son. Christ is a new Prometheus, who “cast fire on the earth,” in the gift of the Holy Spirit — the Spirit of freedom. What constitutes the way to man’s freedom is not autonomy, but grace, leading to love.