The Human Person

Objectives:
Acquire deeper knowledge on the true nature and purpose of human existence Appreciate ones own perfection, such as freedom, and learn from ones limitations Give personal insights on how one could grow as a mature human person.

Creation: the ultimate origin and meaning of human existence. 3 stages in mans nature: a. original state perfect social order b. fallen state social tension c. redeemed state social restoration

Man: Creature and Child of God

Source: Donald Guthrie, The New Testament Approach to Social Responsibility, London School of Theology

Views on Personhood
Genetic School: A person is a being with genetic code, and therefore, is a person from the moment of conception. Developmental School: interaction with the environment is necessary. School of Social Consequences: depends on what kind of person is wanted by society.
Genesis: they will be like God.
St. Bonaventure: footprints of God.

Teilhard de Chardin: creation become conscious of itself.

Perfections of Man:

Man

Material (Animal)

Spiritual (Rational)

Senses

Instinct

Intellect

Will

Man: Creature and Child of God

Intelect
Wisdom
Truth Thinking Knowing

Correlation
Highest Goal Goal Function Purpose

Will
Virtue
Good Doing Choosing

Man: Creature and Child of God

Characteristics of a Human Person

Open and Relational Embodied Spirits

Conscious Beings
Historical Realities Unique and Equal

Open and Relational

No man is an island. We grow into our full SELVES only in relating to others.

Embodied Spirits
Unity of body and soul Our bodies are temple of the Holy Spirit. Bodies are SACRED.

Conscious Beings
We possess selfawareness through knowing and willing. Know Thyself An unexamined life is not worth living.

Historical Realities

Pilgrims on-the-way I believe history teaches us a categorical lesson: that once a people are determined to become free, then nothing can stop them from reaching their goal.
D. Tutu

 Unique and Equal

All human beings are born free and equal, in dignity and rights. (from Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948) Art. 1 without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Art. 2

Some views of human existence

Utilitarianism human existence is for usefulness (Capitalism) Hedonism human existence is for pleasure (Materialism) Nihilism human existence is senseless and useless (Terrorism) What is your view of your existence?

Activity
In sheet of yellow paper, write 2 (two) truths about yourself and 1 (one) lie.

FREEDOM

Authentic Meaning of Freedom

God left man free to make his own decisions. (Sir. 15:14) Man is rational, and therefore like God; he is created with

free will and is master over his acts. (St. Irenaeus)

It is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to

act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on ones own responsibility. (CCC, 1731)
Freedom, therefore, is the capacity to choose what is

good, not evil, or else be lead into slavery of sin. (Cf. Rom. 6:17)

 Freedom is the power of REASON

and WILL to act or not to act, to do this or that, and to perform deliberate actions anchored to ones own responsibility.
Freedom is a force for growth and

What is Freedom?

maturity in truth and goodness; and ultimately attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude. (CCC #1731)

 Morality pertains to areas of our lives

where freedom is possible and enable us to actualize our potentials

Promoting freedom is tantamount to

promoting the possibility of moral life

1.

Basic Freedom / Freedom of Self-Determination

the freedom to decide about oneself and to make someone of oneself It goes directly toward our relationship with God, the ultimate end of our lives. Basic freedom before God is always incarnated in the particular choices we make through life. a choice that demands more personal involvement

2. Freedom of Choice It has to do with realizing our capacity to be ourselves through the particular choices we make. Involves less personal involvement Choosing one option from a number of others Our freedom to choose this or that even within limits is fundamentally a freedom to choose an identity

Center of Identity Level of Convictions Level of Feelings Level of External Possessions

a. Fundamental Option
those significant moments of choice in our

lives, which establish or affirm more strongly the character and direction of our lives. A choice that arises from a personal depth that it can significantly reverse or reinforce the fundamental direction of our lives A choice must be rooted in deep selfknowledge and a freedom to commit oneself

 great decisions as special moments in life (B. Haring) Through fundamental option, we express our basic freedom to

commit ourselves profoundly toward a certain way of being in the world. A single change of ones fundamental option can change ones fundamental stance Decisions are tied up with commitment to integrity and identity, sense of responsibility to others and the world

 Biblically, fundamental option is the heart

the deepest source from which we commit ourselves to God and to others and show what we most care about or value. The truest expression of ourselves as moral persons arises from there; it does not lie in our external actions alone.

b. Fundamental Stance
Basic direction of our lives which

manifests a consistent personal identity Within the context of fundamental option, it expresses the sort of person we have chosen to be, the fundamental direction we have chosen for our lives Fundamental direction of ones life shows ones stable identity

Gal. 5:1,13,16
It was for freedom Christ set us free;

so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. Do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, rather serve one another through love, I say then: live by the Spirit.

1 Pt. 2:16
Live as freemen. Do not use

your freedom as a cloak for vice. In a word, live as servants of God.

Freedom & Moral Obligation

Freedom is inseparable from moral obligation.

To be free one must be responsible.

Laws & Moral Obligations do not restrict our freedom and

the freedom of others. BUT, they actually protect each ones freedom. Freedom is a GIFT & a TASK

Implications of free and voluntary acts

Freedom makes man responsible for his acts.

Man is physically or psychologically free to choose or

reject God, but morally free only to choose God. Choice determines a person. defect of freedom: caused by the bent Freedom finds authenticity and inclination of our will completeness in the and made possible by limitation of our acceptance of the law. intellect. Freedom presupposes truth (intellect) and good (will).

Authentic Freedom
Christian Life as Freedom in Christ
Living in Christ Freedom from SIN
Living for Christ Freedom for GRACE Living with Christ Freedom to CHARITY

Sin is the biggest obstacle to freedom Grace is the path towards attaining true freedom Charity is the greatest expression of authentic freedom

Think about this!

Our actions are like the tip of an iceberg. They

held above the surface by our attitudes, convictions and fundamental direction of our lives which seek external and concrete expressions.
Only by looking beneath the surface of our actions

will we be able to get to the roots of moral conversion.

Activity
On the same sheet of paper, answer the following

questions.
1. From what form of enslavement would you desire to be

free? Explain why. 2. How do the truths in your life help increase or develop your freedom?