CREATIVE FREEDOM by Fr. Michael Moga, SJ
Introduction
- Creativity is a grace that is special to our human lives
- Repetitious works in daily life, game, religion
- Our educational world can give us no space for freedom since it is a world that is highly organized
- Freedom and creativity are also absent in academic research for it is a reflection of the previous ideas
- There are innumerable ways our social lives are controlled
- Some philosophers consider these influences (organized world) to be so dominant that no true
freedom is possible
- They see we are controlled by the rewards and punishment that are there in our human societies
Examples of Creative Freedom
- An artist and composer who seeks to create an original and unique style
- Such inspiration is mysterious, something that cannot be logically explained.
- Their works inspire us to seek to be creative in our lives in some other ways.
- Creativity in education is liberal education, they are given a space to appreciate a particular form of
literature and they find themselves in a particular type of art- they are allowed to be creative
- Creativity of a Homemaker usually a mother, the ways that the rooms are decorated and arranged,
and the way the family members interact, how they share their lives and meals, how they support one
another. She is given the possibility of creating a home that embodies her "spirit"
- Religion, religious leader, play, and philosophy
The Experience of Creating
Requirements to be Creative:
1. A Daring
- to leave the familiar world behind and to venture forth into a world that is new and strange and to
develop that world, negative part- there will be a sense of insecurity, uncertainty if I succeed or fail.
- We are gifted by the presence of such a mood. We are blessed by the spirit of daring
2. Openness
- openness to what will happen and needs to let it happen
- The creative artist is always surprised by what he creates, he is not in control of what he is producing.
- He also needs to focus, so there is a hesitancy at the beginning for it is an exhaustive
3. Passivity
- the experience of something being given him or her
- mothers a child (an activity), but she is also given that child (a passivity)
- Present in any experience of creativity is a strange mixture of "giving" and "being given" something
- Creativity will only fill our lives with blessings if we live in a somewhat passive way
4. Presence of the Past
- He does not imitate the past, but he is guided by it.
- Mysteriously rich past background guides a creative person
5. Strength
- The inspired creator presents us with an inspired object and affirms not only its value but also its
preciousness
- Confidence is given to the creative person as he presumes that the created object that he presents to
us deserves to be accepted and admired.
- They are filled with pride as they present these creations of theirs to the public.
- They are confident that they have created something admirable. Creative inspiration gives them
strength.
- Essential part of the basic mood of a creator is trust
- Takes joy in it
- His life is given meaning by what he is creating
- As the novelist develops a new story, he is confident that he will manage to create a work that will be
interesting, something that people should appreciate
6. The Personal Basis
- The rich blessings of creativity can only enter our lives when we live as open and receptive persons.
