Spiritual Discernment and Paul Ricoeur’s Theory of Hermeneutics

Abstract

Spiritual discernment plays an important role in Christian life. Christian spiritual discernment connotes multi-layered tiers of meanings and involves multiple dimensions within its complicated processes. God’s will cannot be searched in an only universal way. In addition, spiritual discernment has a dimension beyond empirical observation, and thus cannot be analyzed nor explained with scientific evidences or proofs. Moreover, nobody is absolutely free from self-deception, distorted ideology or diabolical illusion. However, it does not mean that meaning can be anything, or that any interpretation is equally valid in understanding God. Ricoeur’s theory of hermeneutics, especially his idea of repeated dialectic engagements between explanation and understanding, distanciation and appropriation, and the hermeneutics of faith and of suspicion, can guide a discerner within the interpretive process to arrive at less distorted and more valid interpretation of realizing a way and call from God. For valid discernment, both accurate evaluation of context and insightful self-understanding as a discerning subject are necessary prerequisites. Ricoeur also indicates that the goal of interpretation is to disclose an alternative world and a new mode of being through discourse with the text, rather than to simply capture the original intention of the author. The discernment process may involve moments of uncertainty and of doubt, as the message of the infinite and transcendent Being is never self-evident within the finite nature of humanity. However, the transitory deconstruction of old schemes of faith and uncovering the cultural and personal distortions with suspicion during the discernment process will disclose a way to a deeper understanding of God’s will, a deeper apprehension of the world, and a new possibility of self. In this sense, spiritual discernment is a growing self-formative process.