Discernment (Christianity)

Last updated January 07, 2025

In Christianity, discernment is the ability to obtain sharp perceptions or to judge well (or the activity of so doing).^[1] In the case of judgement, discernment can be psychological, moral, or aesthetic in nature.^[2]

Discernment has also been defined in these contexts: scientific (discerning what is true about the real world),^[3] normative (discerning value including what ought to be),^[4] and formal (deductive reasoning). The process of discernment, within judgment, involves going past the mere perception of something and making nuanced judgments about its properties or qualities.^[4]

Discernment in the Christian religion is considered a virtue, a discerning individual is considered to possess wisdom, and be of good judgement; especially so with regard to subject matter often overlooked by others.^[5]

Christianity

In Christianity, the word may have several meanings. Discernment can describe the process of determining God's desire in a situation or for one's life, or identifying the true nature of a thing, such as discerning whether a thing is good, evil, or may even transcend such a limiting notion of duality.^[4] It also describes the interior search for an answer to the question of one's vocation, specifically, whether or not God is calling one to the married life, single life, consecrated life, ordained ministry or any other calling.

"Discernment of spirits" is a term used in both Roman Catholic and Charismatic (Pentecostal) Christian theology to indicate judging various spiritual agents for their moral influence.

Process of discernment

The process of achieving a level of discernment takes place in steps. The following actions can be made in the course of discernment: taking time in making decisions, using both the head and heart, and assessing important values involved in the situation.

Time has been considered necessary in the process of making a smart choice; decisions made in a hurry can be altered by^{[ clarification needed ]} lack of contemplation.^[6]^: 4 When time is available to assess the situation this improves the discernment process. When time allows, a tentative decision can be revisited and other people can be consulted to make sure that the person is satisfied with their choice.^[7]

Deciding and discerning each require both the "head" and the "heart". To make a decision with the "head" one must first reflect on the situation and emphasize the rational aspect of the decision making process.^[8]^: 9 To make a decision with the "heart" one must decide based on feelings as well as rationality.^[6]^: 5–6

Values in the discernment process are weighing options that determine what is most important to the person. Everyone’s value system is different which affects each person's discernment process.^[6]^: 6–7

Group discernment

Group discernment is a separate branch of discernment. In group discernment each person in the group must first undergo their own discernment process.^[9]^: 2–4 That person must keep in mind what is best for the group as well as themself when making a decision.^[7] The same guiding principles (of values, using the head and heart, and ample time) all still apply in group discernment. Group discernment is different because it requires multiple people to have a unanimous decision in order to move forward. Group discernment requires discussion and persuasion between people to arrive at a decision.

Christian spiritual discernment

Christian spiritual discernment is distinct from secular types of discernment because every decision is to be made in accordance with what is perceived to be God's will.^[8]^: 12 The fundamental definition of Christian discernment is a decision-making process in which an individual makes a discovery that can lead to future action.^[10] People who practise this believe that in the process of Christian spiritual discernment God guides the individual to help them arrive at the best decision. The way to arrive at the best decision in Christian spiritual discernment is to seek out internal external^{[ clarification needed ]} signs of God's action and then apply them to the decision at hand. Christian Discernment also has an emphasis on Jesus, and making decisions that align with those of Jesus in the New Testament.^[10] The focus on God and Jesus when making decisions is what separates Christian discernment from secular discernment.

Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) is often regarded as the master of the discernment of spirits.^[9]^: 2 The method of "Ignatian discernment" is his technique of Catholic discernment. Ignatian discernment uses a series of Spiritual Exercises for discerning life choices and focuses on noticing God in all aspects of life.^[11]^: 6 The Spiritual Exercises are designed to help people who face a major life decision. There are seven steps of discernment to be followed that include identifying the issue, taking time to pray about the choice, making a wholehearted decision, discussing the choice with a mentor, and then finally trusting the decision made.^[11]^: 7–8

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Judgement is the evaluation of given circumstances to make a decision. Judgement is also the ability to make considered decisions. The term has at least five distinct uses.

Spiritual is the adjective for the noun "spirit".

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In Christianity, the word of knowledge is a spiritual gift listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8. It has been associated with the ability to teach the faith, but also with forms of revelation similar to prophecy. It is closely related to another spiritual gift, the word of wisdom.

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Discernment of spirits is a term used in Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Charismatic Christian theology to judge the influence of various spiritual agents on a person's morality. These agents are:

from within the human soul itself, known as concupiscence
Divine Grace
Angels
Devils

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Magis is a Latin word that means "more" or "greater". It is related to ad majorem Dei gloriam, a Latin phrase meaning "for the greater glory of God", the motto of the Society of Jesus. Magis refers to the philosophy of doing more for Christ, and therefore doing more for others. It is an expression of an aspiration and inspiration. It relates to forming the ideal society centered on Jesus Christ.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the human self:

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Timothy M. GallagherOMV is an American Catholic priest and author who has written several bestselling books on the theology and spirituality of Ignatius of Loyola, and other themes of the spiritual life.

Ignatian spirituality, similar in most aspects to, but distinct from Jesuit spirituality, is a Catholic spirituality founded on the experiences of the 16th-century Spanish Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order. The main idea of this form of spirituality comes from Ignatius's Spiritual Exercises, the aim of which is to help one "conquer oneself and to regulate one's life in such a way that no decision is made under the influence of any inordinate attachment." The Exercises are intended to give the person undertaking them a greater degree of freedom from his or her own likes and dislikes, so that their choices are based solely on what they discern God's will is for them. Even in the composition of the exercises by Ignatius early in his career, one might find the apostolic thrust of his spirituality in his contemplation on "The Call of the Earthly King" and in his final contemplation with its focus on finding God in all things.

The Ignatian pedagogical paradigm is a way of learning and a method of teaching taken from the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. It is based in St. Ignatius Loyola's Spiritual Exercises, and takes a holistic view of the world.

Amoris laetitia is a post-synodal apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis addressing the pastoral care of families. Dated 19 March 2016, it was released on 8 April 2016. It follows the Synods on the Family held in 2014 and 2015.

Christian diet programs are books and other name-brand products promoting weight-loss diets and other diets that the authors believe are consistent with Christian rules and values. They may borrow elements from Jewish dietary laws, the Bible, modern nutrition science, or other sources. Christian diet and exercise programs became popular in the 1970s. They differ from historical, non-commercial Christian dietary traditions, such as not eating meat on Fridays.

References

↑ "Discernment". Cambridge English Dictionary. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
↑ Zangwill, Nick (2019). "Aesthetic Judgment". In Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2019 ed.). Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
↑ Zhu, Weidong; Li, Shaorong; Ku, Quan; Zhang, Chao (2020). "Evaluation Information Fusion of Scientific Research Project Based on Evidential Reasoning Approach Under Two-Dimensional Frames of Discernment". IEEE Access. 8: 8087–8100. Bibcode:2020IEEEA...8.8087Z. doi: 10.1109/access.2020.2963936 . ISSN 2169-3536. S2CID 210696252.
1 2 3 Diamond, Stephen A.; Larson, Paul; Amlen, Jennifer; Madden, Kathryn; Madden, Kathryn; DuBose, Todd; Crusalis, Bonnie Smith; Giaccardi, Giorgio; Leeming, David A. (2010). "Discernment". Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion. Boston, Mass.: Springer US. pp. 237–241. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-71802-6_171. ISBN 978-0-387-71801-9. S2CID 241505880 . Retrieved 2020-11-01.
↑ Dominican Province of the Assumption. "The Journey of Discernment". Dominican Province of the Assumption. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
1 2 3 Wolff, Pierre (1993). Discernment: the Art of Choosing Well: Based on Ignatian Spirituality. Liguori Publications.
1 2 Barton, Ruth Hayley (2005-02-23). "Discerning God's Will Together: Discovering a Process of Leadership Discernment". Transforming Center. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
1 2 Horton, Dennis (2009). "Discerning Spiritual Discernment: Assessing Current Approaches for Understanding God's Will". Journal of Youth Ministry. 7.
1 2 Waaijman, Kees (2013). "Discernment and Biblical Spirituality: An Overview and Evaluation of Recent Research". Acta Theologica . 32.
1 2 Kunz, Sandra (2011). "Respecting the Boundaries of Knowledge: Teaching Christian Discernment with Humility and Dignity, a Response to Paul O. Ingram". Buddhist-Christian Studies: 177.
1 2 Au, Wilkie (September 2010). "The Ignatian Method: A Way of Proceeding". Presence. 16.