Right, there's natural, limited freedom or autonomy (self-control), which the ancient Greeks talked about in terms of discipline, moderation, and rational judgment, and then there's the miraculous, supernatural freedom that's a theme in some religions. I think we have the first kind of freedom, but not the second.

And those modest liberties are certainly threatened by social changes. Over the last decade or so in the US, both political parties have threatened American freedom in different ways, although Democratic liberalism is more modern and therefore opposed to the traditional forms of oppression.