the self

I've just realised that in our culture 'the self' - that thing which defines 'you' - is thought of as something which is expressed by its choices. In fact, I would even say that our culture thinks that the self is constituted by its choices, and (or especially) in its consumption of pleasure.

Thus, to deny free choice to the self is to deny self-expression, or even self-constitution - which is pretty much the grossest sin these days.

I don't think we Christians share such an elevated vision of this god-like self.