Question: How do you reasonably expect to be "always free" if you do not understand what is the Source of your freedom? The best the Sophists could do was to rationalize, not liberty, but license. -- bb.
Who says we don't?
I think free will is self evident. -- Nothing, save force, can shut up a unhappy baby. The baby grows up realizing this fact, but soon learns that cooperation satisfies its needs better than cries & threats. This leads, with maturity & reason, to the concept of equal, unalienable rights for all.
You want to believe that God put free will into creatures? -- Fine with me. -- But don't insist that rights/free will don't exist without such a belief.