Freedom of Choice

"A king may move a man. A father may claim a son. But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of great power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say 'but I was told by others to do thus' or that 'virtue was not convenient at the time.' This will not suffice. Remember that."
--King Baldwin IV (Kingdom of Heaven)

One characteristic that separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom is freedom of choice. Unlike Pavlov's dog, we can decide how to respond to a stimulus. We can override limbic reflex and choose differently.

This means that no matter how bad or high pressure things get, we control our response. Others cannot move us unless we let them. When we stand accountable before the Creator we will not be able to claim temporary insanity, or that social pressure was too much, or that orders were merely being followed, or that we were ignorant, or that good ends justified evil means.

But I gave you capacity for reason and choice, He will say, to choose between right and wrong, between peace and aggression. Why did you not use it?