Discernment (Christianity)
activity of determining the value and quality of a certain subject
In Christianity, discernment is the ability to obtain sharp perceptions or to judge well (or the activity of so doing). In the case of judgment, discernment can be psychological, moral, or aesthetic in nature.
Discernment has also been defined in these contexts: scientific (discerning what is true about the real world), normative (discerning value including what ought to be), 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.
Discernment in the Christian religion is considered a virtue and a lifelong task, a discerning individual is considered to possess wisdom and be of good judgment through a profound spiritual alignment and engagement; especially so with regard to subject matter often overlooked by others.
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. 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.
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