Midlife Decisions: In Search of Resources for Personal Discernment
This article explores the issue of discernment through tracing the author’s experience wrestling with personal midlife decisions. The article begins by describing my sense of turmoil and enquires whether Baptist resources are available to support the decision-making process. ‘Communal discernment’ i...
| Published in: | Journal of European Baptist Studies |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
International Baptist Theological Study Centre
2023
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| In: |
Journal of European Baptist Studies
Year: 2023, Volume: 23, Issue: 2, Pages: 65-86 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Adult (35-60 Jahre)
/ Baptists
/ Spirituality
/ Faith
/ Power of judgment
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| IxTheo Classification: | CB Christian life; spirituality KDG Free church NBE Anthropology |
| Further subjects: | B
Guidance
B Decision-making B Spirituality B Discernment |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | This article explores the issue of discernment through tracing the author’s experience wrestling with personal midlife decisions. The article begins by describing my sense of turmoil and enquires whether Baptist resources are available to support the decision-making process. ‘Communal discernment’ in its traditional form is examined but dismissed as ill-suited to my task, while the Baptist principle of ‘soul competency’ seems to offer a viable starting point. Similarly, searching the Scriptures offers insights but fails to resolve my dilemmas, although engagement with Catholic spirituality through the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius proves fruitful. I go on to consider whether small group discernment within Baptist settings might provide an effective blend of intimacy and community, discussing both a home-grown experiment and a published case study. In reporting the outcomes of the process, namely attaining a sense of peace despite continuing uncertainty, I conclude that discernment is deep spiritual work that cannot be rushed. |
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| ISSN: | 1804-6444 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of European Baptist Studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.25782/jebs.v23i2.1236 |