이냐시오 로욜라와 조나단 에드워즈의 영적 식별 비교 연구, 조한상

In the Christian spiritual tradition, spiritual discernment is a very important practice of faith. Despite its importance, the Protestant church, compared to the Catholic church, has a denomination-dependent, partial, and fragmentary understanding of spiritual discernment. Therefore, this study aims to provide the Protestant church and Protestants with the possibility and the necessity of a more comprehensive and systematic understanding of spiritual discernment, specially via a comparative study of between Ignatius of Loyola and Jonathan Edwards.
This study discusses spiritual discernment focused on Spiritual Exercise and Religious Affections used by Bernard Lonergan’s conversion theory and Mark McInTosh’s methodology. These five movements are faith, impulse, discretion, holy will, and illumination. This study consequently asserts that a conversion experience is a prerequisite for spiritual discernment for decision-making according to God’s will. In addition, this study uncovers the similarities and differences between Ignatius and Edwards. First of all, they regard affection as an important element for discernment, they view affection as not a feeling but a source of action, and thus they understand affection as a central and integrating concept. They also regard daily spirituality, living for God’s glory, and spiritual practice as important factors for spiritual discernment. Furthermore, both Ignatius and Edwards emphasize the importance of asserting not only personal situations but also the wider community in discernment.
Notwithstanding their similarities, however, Ignatius and Edwards have some differences as well. Ignatius focuses on interior movements, whereas Edwards concentrates on the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, Ignatius emphasizes an impulse, whereas Edwards, because of his pastoral setting, emphasizes discretion as a movement of discernment.
Although Ignatius and Edwards have a different interests and perspectives toward spiritual discernment because of their lives and pastoral settings, their work will contribute to modern believers’ spiritual discernment. In conclusion, the similarities between Ignatius and Edwards provide modern-day Protestants with a foundation for a more comprehensive understanding of spiritual discernment.