This is what I'd like to say to my son about religion, morality and freedom of choice:
religion and its commandments, strictures, etc. do limit your 'choice' in a certain way.
But they also prepare you for a very important choice further (or quite close for some of us) down the line.

Think of it in this way: imagine you're playing a strategic computer game. On the one hand it's fun to be able to make all possible mistakes, explore all the available paths, make all - even the most extreme - mistakes. On the other hand, what if there's a time limit. Would you reject tips from someone who's gone through all the levels. Not detailed instructions - there would be still room for experimenting, mistakes or individual approach. But the kind of tips that could save you precious minutes and points right at the end where you'd be getting behind time probably.
Now imagine that you're told that you're playing for your life. Would you then reject the tips for the sake of some experiences, explorations that could not only prove useless, boring or hurting - both you and others - but also cost you the ultimate price.

The repentant villain on the cross .... (he must have prepared to ask Jesus what he did)