Discerning God's Will / Edition 1

by Ben Campbell Johnson

Overview

Popular author Ben Campbell Johnson discusses how the will of God relies on the depths of the human psyche. He addresses in specific terms how one may use intuition, imagination, and memory to ascertain the leading of God's will. Johnson claims that once God's will is sensed, one must trust that God will continue to give guidance. For each chapter, a series of reflection exercises is provided along with a brief guide to the process of discernment.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780664251468
Publisher:	Westminster John Knox Press
Publication date:	10/01/1990
Edition description:	1st ed
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.43(d)

About the Author

Ben Campbell Johnson is Professor Emeritus of Christian Spirituality at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. He is the author of a number of books, including Discerning God's Will and Speaking of God, both published by WJK.

Table of Contents

	Preface	7
1	The Search for Meaning	9
2	The Will of God	22
3	The Will of God Made Flesh	34
4	The Will of God Written in the Soul	51
5	Intuition: A Source of Discernment	67
6	Imagination and Discernment	81
7	Discernment Through Memory	96
8	Doing the Will of God	108
9	The Will of God and the Problem of Evil	123
10	Discerning the Will of God In and Through Community	136
Appendix A	Reflection Exercises	150
Appendix B	An Abbreviated Exercise in Discernment	164
	Notes	167

Editorial Reviews

This is a thorough and sound discussion of the process of discerning God's will from the perspective of mainstream Protestant theology. Beginning with our search for meaning in life and with Trinitarian sources of revelation, the book then considers intuition, imagination, memory and personal history, action, the problem of evil, and the role of community in discernment. Its two appendixes, ``Reflection Exercises'' and ``An Abbreviated Exercise in Discernment,'' encourage applying the book's principles to one's own life. Helpful for both laity and clergy, the book is highly recommended for seminary and public libraries.

Library Journal