Freedom and Spirituality: A Personal Perspective on Two Misunderstood Ideas

Joyce Brand

Wednesday, June 04, 2025

What do freedom and spirituality have in common?

To many, they seem unrelated—perhaps even in conflict. After all, isn’t freedom about doing what you want, while spirituality is about sacrifice and submission?

But these are simplistic interpretations. In truth, both freedom and spirituality run deeper—and when understood properly, they complement each other in powerful ways.

In this week’s Substack article, I explore how personal freedom is not about unchecked indulgence but about liberating ourselves from the internal forces that keep us stuck—addictions, bad habits, fear, and resentment. Likewise, spirituality isn’t about obeying rules you don’t understand. It’s about the voluntary pursuit of wisdom, connection, and mutual respect.

I share a bit of my personal journey growing up in a strict religious household and how my understanding of faith evolved. Over time, I came to see that the deepest spiritual truths—like empathy, honesty, and reciprocity—are shared across traditions. And they align perfectly with a truly free society based on voluntary cooperation.

Whether we’re talking about morality, entrepreneurship, or building better communities, the takeaway is this: Freedom and spirituality both begin with internal choices and outward responsibilities. They are not at odds—they are allies.

👉 Read the full article: The Essence of Freedom and Spirituality 

Let me know what you think. Does this view of freedom resonate with your experience? How do you define spirituality in a modern world?

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Hi, I Am Joyce Brand

CEO Of Morazan Model Association

I am a woman who is passionate about freedom. I understand that freedom is an overused and misunderstood word. By freedom, I mean responsibility — specifically the responsibility of living without allowing any self-proclaimed rulers to make my moral judgments for me. A coercive government can impose negative consequences on me for disobeying its edicts, but I am free to the extent that I recognize my own responsibility for the risks I choose to take in following my own moral judgments. That is what it means to live free in an unfree world.

​The label that I use to describe myself is voluntaryist because it is the clearest word I can think of to describe my most important belief — that all interactions between human beings should be voluntary. There is never any moral justification for the initiation of violence or coercion. The Morazan Model Association explores the implications of that core belief.