Is life more important than freedom?
I see this two ways.
On one hand, when it comes down to a personal decision of action vs. inaction, it really depends on the individual. The same would apply (potentially in reverse!) in a self-defense situation: is your life more important than either the other person's freedom, or regrettably, your own freedom from internal torment later on in your life over having killed another? For some, that's a non-starter - they don't want to even think about it, and would rather "risk it".
Yes, I realize this could be deemed as an argument of "moral relativity". But the meaning of the word "freedom" isn't absolute. What is freedom to one person might be slavery to others. Freedom might be having no responsibilities, no concerns, no oppression, no needs unfilled - it all depends on the person and their mindset. So, in reality, the argument is deeper than just "freedom or life?"
Christians believe (if they take the modern interpretation of the Pauline doctrine to heart) that a life of sin is one worth not living - that it is, literally, slavery to sin. Some Muslims believe that it is a sin for women to be treated as men, and for them to expose any part of their body. Some people believe that those sins are, themselves, liberating, and that the dogmas that encourage the restriction of those sins to be slavery.
Until we get that email from God telling us which is what, the only thing we can do is act honestly based on our conscience, and what we think is the right thing to do.
For some, that choice is to accept life, and for others it is to chose freedom (using the likely intended meaning of both for this argument). Different people are capable of different degrees of strength, and we all come into situations with different impressions of what things are. When it comes down to it, you can't force a person to accept your version of freedom - to deny their own cultural upbringing (they've got to ask themselves to do that, after an analysis - and that's not something you're going to force someone to do). Yes, you've got to argue for your point of view and attempt to reinforce the culture
This is kind of a difficult question to answer, because it can be rephrased in a number of different ways, given a person's perspective. Consider:
- Life or freedom?
- Selfish or selfless?
- selfless or selfish?
- preserve or protect?
- promiscuous or pious?
- wait, what? - they're not mutually exclusive?
Anyway, those are my thoughts on the matter, sorta. They're a bit discombobulated, but hopefully I've conveyed my feelings well enough to impart a new idea in someone's mind.
