01 - What is freedom? Are we free to do whatever we want?
Freedom is the state of absence from physical or moral constraints. Our degree of freedom is limited. From the moment when two people live together, there are reciprocal rights to be respected; so there is no complete freedom of action.
Only by living as a hermit a man can aspire to complete freedom of action. Giving men complete freedom of action, at the current stage of the planet, would bring chaos.
02 - What is free will? Does it exist in the same degree?
Free will is the freedom to do yourself; to have the choice of your own acts. We all have free will, because otherwise we would be mere machines. If we have the freedom to think, we also have the freedom to act. Free will is exercised in accordance with the wishes and needs of human beings. A child, for example, doesn’t use it to decide big things (from an adult’s perspective), but to choose something like playing or watching television. Freedom is almost non-existent, in the early years of a child’s life.
03 - If God gave us free will to do what we please, why then sometimes we have to limit our actions?
We have our rights but we also our duties. Therefore, we should be aware that our will won’t always prevail, because we live in society so that everyone can have their rights guaranteed. If we think and act this way, we’ll have a clear conscience as we won’t be violating the rights of our fellow brothers. We must always remember that every action generates a consequence; we should do unto others as we want them to do to us.
04 - Isn’t it wrong to be imposed general laws and rules of conduct in certain social groups, if we have free will and don’t live in a dictatorship? Couldn’t the decision to do or not do something be guided by each one’s common sense?
Life in society requires rules, because freedom and rights from one person will stop where the freedom and rights from others begin; otherwise there will be anarchy. Not everyone has the common sense to conduct their lives in a way that respects other’s rights. The establishment of laws and rules doesn’t restrict free will because the person may choose to do or not to do what is illegal and/or what is socially accepted.
05 – Is there something in which a man is totally free?
Man is completely free in his thoughts, although we must account to God about what we reflect on. "Watch your thoughts: they will generate your words; watch your words: they will generate your attitudes; watch your attitudes: they will create your destiny."
06 – What is meant by the phrase: "My freedom ends where another's freedom begins"?
From the moment when two people live together, there are reciprocal rights to be respected, so there is no complete freedom of action. We're limited in our attitudes because of the rights of others. Each right corresponds to a duty. We do have total freedom in our thoughts.
07 - What is to have limits?
It’s to be aware that there are other people in the world and that there are equal rights for everybody. Therefore, some things can be done and others can’t, so that everyone can live in harmony.